West nile virus vaccine

ABSTRACT

The invention provides for immunogenic compositions against West Nile Virus. The immunogenic compositions, in alternate embodiments, also include other equine pathogens. The West Nile Virus composition of the present invention advantageously provides for protection against North American Dominant West Nile Virus strains or isolates.

SEQUENCE LISTING

This application contains a sequence listing in accordance with 37C.F.R. 1.821-1.825. The sequence listing accompanying this applicationhas been submitted electronically in ASCII format and is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created onDec. 14, 2015, is named 10-0111-US-4-SEQ-UP.txt and is 117,841 bytes insize.

BACKGROUND

West Nile Virus (“WNV”) is in the family Flaviviridae. Infection isusually contracted through a mosquito vector transferred through theinsect's bite. West Nile infects all types of animals and birds acrossthe globe. This virus was first discovered in the North American regionin 1999 with the first diagnosis occurring in Canadian horses.Presently, West Nile Virus has become endemic in the United Statesaffecting birds, humans, and animals of all types. In 2002, over 14,700confirmed cases of West Nile Virus were reported in 43 states.

The spread of WNV has been influenced by several factors. Since themosquito is the vector for the virus and perpetuates WNV, the ecologicalconditions conducive to growth and development of mosquito populationshave had an impact of the spread of the WNV. There are several tacticsthat have been utilized to control populations of mosquitoes in aneffort to prevent the spread of WNV. These tactics include the use ofpesticides, repellants, physical barriers preventing contact betweenmosquitoes and animals, eliminating environments that perpetuatebreeding of mosquitoes, and the use of immunizations. Typical signs ofWNV include various symptoms affecting the central nervous system.Symptoms of encephalitis are often seen and include viremia,histopathologic lesions of the central nervous system, anorexia,depression, fever, weakness, abnormal gait, paralysis of hind limbs,impaired vision, ataxia, aimless wandering, convulsions, inability toswallow, coma, and death.

A few vaccines directed towards WNV have been introduced which areundesirable for various reasons. For example, one vaccine was producedfrom a canarypox-vectored West Nile Virus. Another set of vaccines wereproduced from a recombinant chimeric protein of West Nile Virus, whereinthe chimeric protein vaccine was designed by fusing a modified versionof bacterial flagellin (STF2 Delta) to the EIII domain of the WNVenvelope protein. Another vaccine included an inactivated early NorthAmerican West Nile strain that required a metabolizable oil as anadjuvant. Finally, a live, attenuated chimeric vaccine was produced froman infectious clone of yellow fever 17D virus in which the pre-membraneand envelope proteins have been replaced by the corresponding genes ofWN(4).

There are several problems inherent in vaccines described above.Vaccines containing live viral organisms have the risk of infecting ananimal with the virus through vaccination leading to sickness and evendeath. Chimeric protein vaccines, recombinantly expressed vaccines, andsome subunit vaccines have the problem of limited immunological activityand effect related to the number of proteins included in the vaccinecomposition. The efficacy of these types of vaccines is usually limitedand the risk of infection by the virus or reversion to wild type virusis prevalent. In addition, some of the adjuvants utilized in commonvaccines are comprised of metabolizable oils which are removedrelatively rapidly from the body and limit the duration during which theimmune system of the vaccinated animal may respond to theimmunogenically active composition. Other adjuvants can cause allergicreactions and unfavorable effects in the vaccinated animals.Additionally, these vaccines do not include antigens for stimulatingimmunity to other pathogens besides WNV, so they fail to protect animalsagainst several diseases with both convenience and safety. Also, allprevious vaccines were derived from an early isolate of WNV that is nolonger present in the environment, and hence, can no longer infectanimals and cause disease.

Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a vaccine that is safe foradministration to animals of all ages, including pregnant animals, thatincludes adjuvants suitable for aiding the immunogenic effect andduration of the vaccine, and that is prepared from contemporary ordominant isolates of WNV that remain present in the natural environmentand cause disease against which such vaccines would afford protection.What is further needed is a vaccine that reduces the incidence and/orseverity of up to and including the elimination or prevention ofclinical signs associated with the disease or infection by West NileVirus. Additionally what is needed is a vaccine against West Nile virus,which includes West Nile Virus antigens in combination with antigensfrom other equine pathogens, thereby providing further protection byreducing the incidence of or severity of clinical signs of disease fromboth West Nile Virus and the other pathogen(s).

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems inherent in the prior artand provides a distinct advance in the state of the art. Moreparticularly, the present invention provides for a vaccine orimmunogenic composition comprising an immunogenically active antigeniccomponent comprised of one or more strains or isolates of West NileVirus. In some preferred embodiments, the composition further comprisesan adjuvant, preferably a carbomer, and a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier. Preferably, the West Nile Virus antigen is killed orinactivated. This composition induces an immunogenic response in animalssusceptible to contraction of West Nile Virus and provides for a safevaccine for animals of any age.

The present invention additionally provides for a vaccine composition,which is immunogenically active, and which overcomes the limitations ofthose previously described. The present invention provides aninactivated vaccine thereby providing unique safety for the vaccinatedanimals, including pregnant females. Additionally, the immunogeniccomposition of the present invention overcomes interference frompassively acquired maternal immunity and stimulates active immunity invaccinated animals. Advantageously, the present invention provides abroad and effective immunogenically active composition containing manyor all relevant antigenic components and proteins of pathogenic WNV. Theimmunogenic composition of the present invention is unique in that itincludes antigens of contemporary isolates or epidemiologically dominantisolates of WNV in the composition, providing protective immunogenicresponses by reducing the incidence of and/or severity of clinical signsof WNV infection up to and including immunity against the most prevalentisolates seen in animals, including horses, today. In a preferredembodiment, those contemporary isolates of WNV include those isolatesthat are part of the North American West Nile Virus isolates or NorthAmerican Dominant West Nile Virus isolates For purposes of the presentinvention, WN02 is a representative example of a WNV strain that can bereferred to as a North American Dominant West Nile Virus strain orisolate. Specifically, North American Dominant strains and isolates arethose having at least 1 nucleotide change resulting in an amino acidchange from the WN99 isolates. Strain NY99 (GenBank accession no.AF196835) serves as a reference strain for determining if a strain orisolate is North American Dominant. In addition, these strains orisolates may have one or more silent amino acid changes. In a preferredembodiment, the nucleotide change results in an amino acid change in anenvelope protein of the strain or isolate and, more preferably, thenucleotide change results in an amino acid change from valine toalanine. Preferably, this amino acid change is associated with a greaterability to replicate in the intermediate host, namely, the mosquito.More preferably, North American Dominant strains include either (andpreferably both) a U to C mutation and a C to U mutation at positions1442 and 2466 (in comparison to a North American strain, e.g. NY 99 andSEQ ID NO.23), respectively. Still more preferably, North AmericanDominant strains or isolates further include a mutation in thenucleotide sequence encoding the E protein and the C to U mutation atposition 9352 in the sequence encoding the NS5 protein (again incomparison to a North American strain, e.g. NY 99 and SEQ ID NO. 23).These preferred mutations are shown in Example 10 and in PhylogeneticAnalysis of North American West Nile Virus Isolates, 2001-2004: EvidenceFor the Emergence of a Dominant Genotype, C. Todd Davis, et. al,Virology 342, p. 252-265 (2005), the teaching and content of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention also provides for a method of making theimmunogenic composition of the present invention. The method generallycomprises the steps of combining a West Nile Virus antigen and anexcipient or pharmaceutically or veterinary acceptable carrier. Apreferred embodiment further comprises the step of adding one or moreadditional equine antigens. In another embodiment, the method furthercomprises the step of adding a suitable adjuvant to the composition.

In one preferred embodiment, the present invention includes WNV antigensand a non-metabolizable oil adjuvant, preferably mineral oil, to extendthe duration during which the immune system of the vaccinated animal mayrespond to the immunogenically active composition. The non-metabolizableoil is understood to be an oil that, when administered with an antigen,does not metabolize in the body after administration. A preferrednon-metabolizable oil is mineral oil. In other preferred forms, both acarbomer adjuvant and non-metabolizable oil (preferably mineral oil) arepresent in addition to the WNV antigens. The adjuvant(s) can be used inany of the compositions described herein.

In an additional embodiment, the composition of the present inventioncontains WNV antigens, preferably an inactivated or killed WNV from aNorth American dominant strain, and essentially no oil or oil-basedadjuvants. In such an embodiment, other adjuvants, preferably carbomer,can be included.

In another embodiment, a vaccine composition comprised of WNV antigensin combination with other antigens from equine microbial pathogens isprovided in order to confer a broad scope of protection to the animal.In such embodiments, the WNV antigens are in any form as describedabove.

In one preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a vaccinecomposition comprising WNV antigens as described above in combinationwith one or more immunologically effective amounts of antigeniccomponents selected from the group consisting of Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis (VEE), Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE), WesternEquine Encephalomyelitis (WEE), Tetanus toxoid (T), Equine herpesviruses (EHV) including types 1 and 4, Equine influenza viruses (EIV),and combinations thereof, along with a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier. Preferably such embodiments will include an adjuvant,preferably carbomer, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.Additionally, a non-metabolizable oil, preferably mineral oil, may bepresent, however, such an oil is not required.

Preferred embodiments also include WNV antigens, as described above, incombination with: Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis; Western EquineEncephalomyelitis; Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis; Tetanus Toxoid;Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis;Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis and Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis; Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis and Tetanus Toxoid;Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, andVenezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis; Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis,Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, and Tetanus Toxoid; Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis, Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis and Tetanus Toxoid; Western Equine Encephalomyelitisand Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis; Western EquineEncephalomyelitis and Tetanus Toxoid; Western Equine Encephalomyelitis,Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis, and Tetanus Toxoid; VenezuelanEquine Encephalomyelitis and Tetanus Toxoid; and Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis and TetanusToxoid. The most preferred combination of these specified combinationsincludes WNV antigens in combination with antigens or antigeniccomponents of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, Western EquineEncephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis, and TetanusToxoid. In each such specified combination, an adjuvant or combinationof adjuvants can be used, with carbomer, and even more preferablycarbopol, being particularly preferred. In the most preferred forms ofthe combination of WNV and Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, WesternEquine Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis andTetanus Toxoid, no oil (metabolizable or non-metabolizable) is present.The NJO strain of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, the Fleming strainof Western Equine Encephalomyelitis strain, and the TC-83 strain ofVenezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis strain are all representativestrains of these vaccine components.

Further preferred embodiments of the present invention can be made usingeach of the specified combination vaccines listed above and adding inantigens from Equine Herpesvirus, preferably type 1, type 4, (EHV1and/or EHV4) or combinations thereof.

Still further variations of each of the specified combination vaccineslisted above, including those that include EHV1 and/or EHV4 can be madeby adding in antigens from Equine influenza virus (EIV). Preferredembodiments incorporating Equine influenza virus include: West NileVirus, at least one strain of Equine Influenza Virus, and TetanusToxoid; West Nile Virus, at least one strain of Equine Influenza Virus,Tetanus Toxoid, and Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis; West Nile Virus,at least one strain of Equine Influenza Virus, Tetanus Toxoid, EasternEquine Encephalomyelitis, and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis; WestNile Virus, at least one strain of Equine Influenza Virus, TetanusToxoid, Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, Western EquineEncephalomyelitis; and Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis; West NileVirus, at least one strain of Equine Influenza Virus, and Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis; West Nile Virus, at least one strain of EquineInfluenza Virus, and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis; West Nile Virus,at least one strain of Equine Influenza Virus, and Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis; West Nile Virus, at least one strain of EquineInfluenza Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, and Western EquineEncephalomyelitis; West Nile Virus, at least one strain of EquineInfluenza Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, and Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis; West Nile Virus, at least one strain of EquineInfluenza Virus, Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, and Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis; West Nile Virus, at least one strain of EquineInfluenza Virus, Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, and tetanus toxoid;West Nile Virus, at least one strain of Equine Influenza Virus,Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis, and tetanus toxoid; West NileVirus, at least one strain of Equine Influenza Virus, Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis, Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, and tetanus toxoid;and West Nile Virus, at least one strain of Equine Influenza Virus,Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis, Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis,and tetanus toxoid. In each specified embodiment any one or more strainsor isolates of Equine Influenza may be present. Preferred strains ofEquine Influenza virus include Influenza A/equine-2/Ohio/03, InfluenzaA/equine-2/New Market/2/93, Influenza A/equine-2/Kentucky/95, andcombinations thereof. In all of the combinations listed above, it ispreferred to use at least two strains of Equine Influenza and still morepreferred to use at least 3 strains of Equine Influenza. Preferredembodiments incorporating Equine Herpes Virus include: West Nile Virus,at least one strain of Equine Influenza Virus, Tetanus Toxoid, andEquine Herpes Virus; West Nile Virus, at least one strain of EquineInfluenza Virus, Tetanus Toxoid, Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, andEquine Herpes Virus; West Nile Virus, at least one strain of EquineInfluenza Virus, Tetanus Toxoid, Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis,Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, and Equine Herpes Virus; West NileVirus, at least one strain of Equine Influenza Virus, Tetanus Toxoid,Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, Western Equine Encephalomyelitis;Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis, and Equine Herpes Virus; West NileVirus, at least one strain of Equine Influenza Virus, and Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis; West Nile Virus, at least one strain of EquineInfluenza Virus, Western Equine Encephalomyelitis and Equine HerpesVirus; West Nile Virus, at least one strain of Equine Influenza Virus,Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis, and Equine Herpes Virus; West NileVirus, at least one strain of Equine Influenza Virus, Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis, Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, and Equine HerpesVirus; West Nile Virus, at least one strain of Equine Influenza Virus,Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis,and Equine Herpes Virus; West Nile Virus, at least one strain of EquineInfluenza Virus, Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis, and Equine Herpes Virus; West Nile Virus, at leastone strain of Equine Influenza Virus, Western Equine Encephalomyelitis,Tetanus Toxoid, and Equine Herpes Virus; West Nile Virus, at least onestrain of Equine Influenza Virus, Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis,tetanus toxoid, and Equine Herpes Virus; West Nile Virus, at least onestrain of Equine Influenza Virus, Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis,Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, Tetanus Toxoid, and Equine HerpesVirus; and West Nile Virus, at least one strain of Equine InfluenzaVirus, Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis, Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis, Tetanus Toxoid, and Equine Herpes Virus. In all ofthe combinations listed above, it is preferred to use at least twostrains of Equine Influenza and still more preferred to use at least 3strains of Equine Influenza. Additionally, in all combinations above,the “at least one” strain of Equine Herpesvirus is preferred to beselected from the group consisting of EHV-1 and EHV-4. In some preferredforms, both strains, EHV-1 and EHV-4, will be included in theimmunogenic composition. In other preferred forms, just EHV-1 will beincluded. The WNV component of the combination will preferably be aninactivated or killed North American dominant strain as describedherein.

The vaccine composition can be administered in any immunogenicallyeffective dose. In a preferred embodiment, the vaccine composition isadministered as a single dose. Preferably, the dose has a total volumebetween about 0.5 ml and 2.5 ml, more preferably between about 0.6 mland 2.0 ml, even more preferably between about 0.7 ml and 1.75 ml, stillmore preferably between about 0.8 ml and 1.5 ml, even more preferablybetween about 0.9 ml and 1.25 ml, with a single 1.0 ml dose being themost preferred.

In another embodiment, the vaccine is administered with a first dosebeing administered prior to the administration of a second (booster)dose. Preferably, the second dose is administered at least 15 days afterthe first dose. More preferably, the second dose is administered between15 and 28 days after the first dose. Even more preferably, the seconddose is administered at least 17 days after the first dose. Still morepreferably, the second dose is administered between 17 and 25 days afterthe first dose. Even more preferably, the second dose is administered atleast 19 days after the first dose. Still more preferably, the seconddose is administered between 19 and 23 days after the first dose. Mostpreferably the second dose is administered at least 21 days after thefirst dose. In a preferred embodiment, both the first and second dosesof the vaccine are in the same amount. Preferably, each dose is in thepreferred amounts specified above, with a dose of 1 ml for the first andsecond dose being most preferred. In addition to the first and seconddose regimen, an alternate embodiment comprises further subsequentdoses. For example, a third, fourth, or fifth dose could be administeredin these embodiments. Preferably, subsequent third, fourth, and fifthdose regimens are administered in the same amount as the first dose,with the time frame between the doses being consistent with the timingbetween the first and second doses mentioned above.

In an additional preferred embodiment, in each dose of the compositionof the present invention, the WNV antigen comprises at least 10^(2.0)TCID₅₀/dose. More preferably, the WNV antigen comprises between about10^(2.0) TCID₅₀/dose to 10^(10.0) TCID₅₀/dose. Still more preferably,the WNV antigen comprises at least 10^(2.5) TCID₅₀/dose. Even morepreferably, the WNV antigen comprises between about 10^(2.5) TCID₅₀/doseto about 10^(9.5) TCID₅₀/dose. Still more preferably, the WNV antigencomprises at least 10^(3.0) TCID₅₀/dose. Even more preferably, the WNVantigen comprises between about 10^(3.0) TCID₅₀/dose to about 10^(9.0)TCID₅₀/dose. Still more preferably, the WNV antigen comprises at least10^(3.5) TCID₅₀/dose. Even more preferably, the WNV antigen comprisesbetween about 10^(3.5) TCID₅₀/dose to about 10^(9.0) TCID₅₀/dose. Mostpreferably, the WNV antigen comprises between 10^(7.0) TCID₅₀/dose and10^(9.0) TCID₅₀/dose. The TCID₅₀ values of an inactivated WNV vaccine orany other inactivated vaccine refer in general to the antigen content inthe final vaccine that however is equivalent to the antigen contentcalculated for the vaccine composition prior to the inactivation of itsantigen. Preferably, the immunogenic composition of the presentinvention stimulates serum neutralizing antibodies to WNV at a titer of1:4 or higher when determined in a commercial available detection assayor using the procedures known to those of skill in the art with arepresentative example provided herein. In a preferred embodiment, ineach dose of an embodiment of the present invention that comprisesadditional equine antigen, the amount of Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis or Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis in any dose ispreferably at least 10^(5.5) TCID₅₀/dose. Even more preferably, the doseis between about 10^(5.5) TCID₅₀/dose and 10^(9.5) TCID₅₀/dose. Stillmore preferably, the dose is at least 10^(6.0) TCID₅₀/dose. Still morepreferably, the dose is between about 10^(6.0) TCID₅₀/dose and 10^(9.0)TCID₅₀/dose. Even more preferably, the dose is at least 10^(6.5)TCID₅₀/dose. Still more preferably, the dose is between about 10^(6.5)TCID₅₀/dose and 10^(9.5) TCID₅₀/dose. Even more preferably, the dose isat least 10^(7.0) TCID₅₀/dose. Most preferably, the dose is between10^(6.7) TCID₅₀ and 10^(9.2) TCID₅₀/dose.

Preferably, the Western Equine Encephalomyelitis antigen, when presentin the composition of the present invention, is in an amount of at least10^(6.2) PFU/ml. Even more preferably, the amount is between 10^(6.2)PFU/ml and 10^(10.2) PFU/ml. Still more preferably, the amount is atleast 10^(6.7) PFU/ml. Even more preferably, the amount is between10^(6.5) PFU/ml and 10^(9.7) PFU/ml. Still more preferably, the amountis at least 10^(7.2) PFU/ml. Even more preferably, the amount is betweenabout 10^(7.2) PFU/ml and 10^(9.2) PFU/ml. Still more preferably, theamount is at least 10^(7.7) PFU/ml with at between 10^(6.5) PFU/dose and10^(9.0) PFU/ml being the most preferred.

In another preferred embodiment, the amount of tetanus toxoid, ifpresent in the composition of the present invention, is in an amount ofat least 3 CPU, more preferably, between about 3 CPU and 20 CPU, stillmore preferably, at least 4 CPU, and most preferably, at least 5 CPU butnot more than 20 CPU.

In an alternate embodiment, where one or more strains of EquineInfluenza Virus is present, the amount of Equine Influenza present inthe composition is in an amount of at least 10^(5.0) TCID₅₀/mL. Morepreferably, the Equine Influenza is in an amount of between about 10⁵⁰TCID₅₀/mL to 10^(9.0) TCID₅₀/mL, and, more preferably, at least 10^(6.0)TCID₅₀/mL. Still more preferably, the amount is between about 10^(6.0)TCID₅₀/mL to 10^(8.0) TCID₅₀/mL and, more preferably, the amount is atleast 10^(6.5) TCID₅₀/mL. Still more preferably, the amount is betweenabout 10^(6.5) TCID₅₀/mL to 10^(7.0) TCID₅₀/mL, with the most preferredamount being between about 10^(6.7) TCID₅₀/mL to 10^(7.0).

In an embodiment that comprises Equine Herpes Virus, the amount ofEquine Herpes Virus in each dose is at least 10^(6.0) TCID₅₀/mL. Morepreferably, Equine Herpes Virus is present in the composition in anamount of between 10^(6.0) TCID₅₀/mL to 10^(9.5) TCID₅₀/mL and, morepreferably, in an amount of about 10^(7.0) TCID₅₀/mL. Still morepreferably, Equine Herpes Virus is present in an amount between 10^(7.5)TCID₅₀/mL to 10^(9.0) TCID₅₀/mL and, more preferably, in an amount ofabout 10^(8.0) TCID₅₀/mL. Still more preferably, Equine Herpes Virus ispresent in an amount of between 10^(8.0) TCID₅₀/mL to 10^(9.0) TCID₅₀/mLand, most preferably, in an amount of about 10^(8.50) TCID₅₀/mL.

In yet another preferred embodiment, a vaccine composition comprisingthe chronologically contemporary and epidemiologically prevalent strainsof WNV is provided. Such a composition will generally improve theefficacy of the composition. Preferably, such a prevalent strain isisolated from the tissues of a horse. Such a source is a preferredsource of WNV for preparing vaccine seed virus for an immunologicalcomposition for a species for which a comprehensively safe and effectiveWNV vaccine is particularly needed, namely, the horse. Further, thepresent invention discloses a vaccine composition comprising aninactivated low passage strain of WNV from the tissues of a horse,thereby overcoming the limitations of previous vaccines with theinappropriate limited repertoire of protein antigens found in eitherhigh passage attenuated vaccines, subunit vaccines, or othercompositions produced by recombinant technology that express less thanthe full complement of proteins. This inactivated low passage WNVstrain, isolated from horse tissues, overcomes deficiencies inherent inprevious vaccines and provides a broad number of immunogenic proteins ofmost relevance by virtue of being produced from a highly virulent equinestrain of low passage, thereby comprising a uniquely and comprehensivelyeffective, yet safe, immunogenic composition not previously availablefor vaccination of the horse. Additionally, preferred chronologicallycontemporary and epidemiologically prevalent strains of WNV are NorthAmerican dominant WNV strains, as defined herein.

The present invention provides for a broader scope of protection thantraditional immunogenic or vaccine compositions, as the presentinvention provides protection against a broad range of isolates of aparticular antigen. The challenge model used to evaluate the efficacy ofthe composition of the present invention utilized a heterologouschallenge strain, evidencing the composition's ability to provideprotection to isolates and strains outside of the particular strain orisolate used to vaccinate the animal. This is a unique feature of thepresent invention.

The present invention additionally provides for a method of reduction ofthe incidence and/or severity of clinical signs associated with WestNile Virus infection in an animal, preferably a horse, when compared towild type infection. Such methods generally comprise the step ofadministering a vaccine composition comprising a killed or inactivatedisolate of West Nile virus, preferably a North American dominant WNVstrain, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In some preferredembodiments of the present application, an adjuvant is added to thecomposition, and in other preferred forms, no adjuvant is provided. Inan alternate preferred embodiment, the method comprises administering avaccine composition comprising one or more killed or inactivatedisolate(s) of West Nile virus in combination with immunologicallyeffective amounts of antigenic components from other equine pathogens.Preferably those isolates are selected from the group consisting ofEastern Equine Encephalomyelitis antigen, Western EquineEncephalomyelitis antigen, Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis antigen,tetanus toxoid, and combinations thereof, and more preferably beingthose combinations described above. In another preferred embodiment, thevaccine of the present invention is combined with a suitable adjuvant,diluent, or pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The present invention provides for reduction of the incidence and/orseverity of clinical symptoms associated with West Nile Virus infectionin a herd, when compared to wild type infection. Preferably, theseverity and/or incidence of clinical symptoms in animals receiving theimmunogenic composition of the present invention are reduced at least10% in comparison to animals not receiving such an administration whenboth groups (animals receiving and animals not receiving thecomposition) are challenged with or exposed to wild type infection byWNV. More preferably, the incidence or severity is reduced at least 20%,even more preferably, at least 30%, still more preferably, at least 40%,even more preferably, at least 50%, still more preferably, at least 60%,even more preferably, at least 70%, still more preferably, at least 80%,even more preferably, at least 90%, still more preferably, at least 95%,and most preferably, at least 100%, wherein the animals receiving thecomposition of the present invention exhibit no clinical symptoms.Preferably, the WNV strain is a North American dominant strain of WNV.Advantageously, the present invention also provides protection fromheterologous strains (relative to the strain used in the composition) ofpathogens.

The present invention further provides a method of stimulating serumneutralizing or serum hemagglutination antibodies to a pathogen selectedfrom the group consisting of WNV, WEE, VEE, EEE, EHV, EIV, andcombinations thereof by administering a composition in accordance withthe present invention described herein. Preferably the compositions ofthe present invention stimulate serum neutralizing antibodies to WNV ata titer of 1:4 or higher, thereby preventing or reducing WNV viremia.

The immunogenic composition of the present invention provides anextended duration of immunity against all antigens present in thevaccine. Preferably, the duration of immunity against West Nile is atleast 1 month, more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 2months, still more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 3months, even more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 4-24months, still more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 6-24months, even more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 7-24months, still more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 8-24months, even more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 9-24months, still more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least10-24 months, and most preferably, the duration of immunity is at least12-24 months.

Preferably, the duration of immunity against EIV is at least 1 month,more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 2 months, stillmore preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 3 months, evenmore preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 4-24 months, stillmore preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 6-24 months, evenmore preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 7-24 months, stillmore preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 8-24 months, evenmore preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 9-24 months, stillmore preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 10-24 months, andmost preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 12-24 months.

Preferably, the duration of immunity against EHV is at least 1 month,more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 2 months, stillmore preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 3 months, evenmore preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 4-24 months, stillmore preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 6-24 months, evenmore preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 7-24 months, stillmore preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 8-24 months, evenmore preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 9-24 months, stillmore preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 10-24 months, andmost preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 12-24 months.

Preferably, the duration of immunity against Western EquineEncephalomyelitis is at least 1 month, more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 2 months, still more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 3 months, even more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 4-24 months, still more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 6-24 months, even more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 7-24 months, still more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 8-24 months, even more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 9-24 months, still more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 10-24 months, and most preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 12-24 months.

Preferably, the duration of immunity against Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis is at least 1 month, more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 2 months, still more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 3 months, even more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 4-24 months, still more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 6-24 months, even more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 7-24 months, still more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 8-24 months, even more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 9-24 months, still more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 10-24 months, and most preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 12-24 months.

Preferably, the duration of immunity against Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis is at least 1 month, more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 2 months, still more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 3 months, even more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 4-24 months, still more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 6-24 months, even more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 7-24 months, still more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 8-24 months, even more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 9-24 months, still more preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 10-24 months, and most preferably, the duration ofimmunity is at least 12-24 months.

Preferably, the duration of immunity against Tetanus Toxoid is at least1 month, more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 2 months,still more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 3 months,even more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 4-24 months,still more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 6-24 months,even more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 7-24 months,still more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 8-24 months,even more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 9-24 months,still more preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 10-24months, and most preferably, the duration of immunity is at least 12-24months.

Preferably, the duration of immunity of at least 12 months furtherrelates to any combination of antigens forming the immunogeniccomposition of the present invention.

In another preferred embodiment comprising EIV and/or EHV antigen, asdescribed above, the immunogenic composition ameliorates shedding ofinfectious EIV or EHV to prevent spread of the virus to othersusceptible animals.

In yet another preferred embodiment, compositions in accordance with thepresent invention described herein overcome interference from passivelyacquired maternal immunity and stimulates active immunity and areduction in the incidence of or severity of clinical signs of EIVinfection in vaccinated animals against EIV.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an immunogeniccomposition comprising VEE, WEE, EEE, tetanus, WNV, equinerhinopneumonitis and equine influenza, all as described herein,demonstrates efficacy against VEE, WEE, EEE, tetanus, WNV, equinerhinopneumonitis and equine influenza after administration in accordancewith the present invention. Preferably, such a composition will furtherinclude an adjuvant, preferably mineral oil and/or a carbomer, and aveterinary acceptable carrier. In preferred forms, the composition willbe administered in a single, 1 ml dose.

Each of the immunogenic compositions described herein that include WNVantigen can be administered as described such that they reduce theincidence of or lessen the severity of clinical symptoms associated withWest Nile Virus.

Each of the immunogenic compositions described herein that include EIVantigen can be administered as described such that they reduce theincidence of or lessen the severity of clinical symptoms associated withEquine Influenza.

The present invention also provides a method for reducing the incidenceof or lessening the severity of clinical symptoms associated with EquineHerpes virus comprising the step of administering any one of theimmunogenic compositions described above, that includes an Equine Herpesvirus antigen, to an animal.

The present invention also provides a method for reducing the incidenceof clinical symptoms associated with West Nile Virus comprising the stepof administering any one of the immunogenic compositions that includesWest Nile Virus antigen, as described herein, to an animal.

The present invention also provides a method for reducing the incidenceof clinical symptoms associated with Equine Influenza Virus comprisingthe step of administering any one of the immunogenic compositionsdescribed above, that includes an Equine Influenza antigen, to ananimal.

The present invention further provides a method for reducing theincidence of clinical symptoms associated with Equine Herpes Viruscomprising the step of administering any one of the immunogeniccompositions described above that includes an Equine Herpes virusantigen, to an animal.

The present invention also provides a method of reducing the incidenceof clinical symptoms associated with Equine Influenza Virus comprisingthe step of administering any one of the immunogenic compositionsdescribed above to an animal, wherein the reduction in clinical signs,compared to animals not receiving the immunogenic composition, is atleast a 10% reduction in clinical signs.

The present invention provides a method of reducing the incidence ofinfection in a herd comprising the step of administering any one of theimmunogenic compositions described above to an animal.

The present invention provides a method of reducing the incidence ofinfection in a herd comprising the step of administering any one of theimmunogenic compositions described above to an animal, wherein thereduction of incidence of infection, compared to herds not receiving theimmunogenic composition, is from about 10%-50% reduction.

The present invention provides a method of reducing the incidence andseverity of clinical symptoms of EHV in a herd, wherein the clinicalsymptoms are selected from the group consisting of respiratory disease,abortion, reproductive complications, neurological disease, centralnervous system disease, and combinations thereof.

The present invention provides a method for reducing the incidence of orlessening the severity of clinical symptoms associated with EquineHerpes Virus comprising the step of administering any one of theimmunogenic compositions described above, that includes an Equine HerpesVirus antigen, to an animal.

The present invention provides a method for reducing the severity of orlessening the severity of clinical symptoms associated with EquineInfluenza in a herd, comprising the step of administering any one of theimmunogenic compositions described above, that includes an EquineInfluenza antigen, to an animal.

The present invention provides a method for reducing the incidence of orlessening the severity of clinical symptoms associated with West NileVirus in a herd, comprising the step of administering any one of theimmunogenic compositions described above, that includes a West NileVirus antigen, to an animal.

The present invention provides a method for reducing the incidence of orlessening the severity of clinical symptoms associated with EasternEquine Encephalomyelitis in a herd, comprising the step of administeringany one of the immunogenic compositions described above that includes anEastern Equine Encephalomyelitis antigen to an animal.

The present invention further provides a method for reducing theincidence of or lessening the severity of clinical symptoms associatedwith Western Equine Encephalomyelitis in a herd, comprising the step ofadministering any one of the immunogenic compositions described above,that includes an Western Equine Encephalomyelitis antigen, to an animal.

The present invention further provides a method for reducing theincidence of or lessening the severity of clinical symptoms associatedwith Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis in a herd, comprising the stepof administering any one of the immunogenic compositions describedabove, that includes a Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis antigen, toan animal.

The present invention also provides a method of making any one of theimmunogenic composition of the present invention as described above andherein, comprising the steps of combining a West Nile Virus antigen witha suitable excipient or pharmaceutical carrier. In preferred forms, thismethod further comprises the step of adding one or more equine antigens.A preferred group of equine antigens are selected from the groupconsisting of Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis, Tetanus Toxoid,EHV, EIV, and combinations thereof. In some preferred forms, the methodsdescribed herein can further comprise a filtration step, wherein thefinal product is in a purified form.

“Adjuvants” as used herein, can include aluminum hydroxide and aluminumphosphate, saponins e.g., Quil A, QS-21 (Cambridge Biotech Inc.,Cambridge Mass.), GPI-0100 (Galenica Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Birmingham,Ala.), non-metabolizable oil, mineral and/or plant/vegetable and/oranimal oils, polymers, carbomers, surfactants, natural organiccompounds, plant extracts, carbohydrates, cholesterol, lipids,water-in-oil emulsion, oil-in-water emulsion, water-in-oil-in-wateremulsion. The emulsion can be based in particular on light liquidparaffin oil (European Pharmacopeia type); isoprenoid oil such assqualane or squalene; oil resulting from the oligomerization of alkenes,in particular of isobutene or decene; esters of acids or of alcoholscontaining a linear alkyl group, more particularly plant oils, ethyloleate, propylene glycol di-(caprylate/caprate), glyceryltri-(caprylate/caprate) or propylene glycol dioleate; esters of branchedfatty acids or alcohols, in particular isostearic acid esters. The oilis used in combination with emulsifiers to form the emulsion. Theemulsifiers are preferably nonionic surfactants, in particular esters ofsorbitan, of mannide (e.g. anhydromannitol oleate), of glycol, ofpolyglycerol, of propylene glycol and of oleic, isostearic, ricinoleicor hydroxystearic acid, which are optionally ethoxylated, andpolyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene copolymer blocks, in particular thePluronic products, especially L121. See Hunter et al., The Theory andPractical Application of Adjuvants (Ed. Stewart-Tull, D. E. S.). JohnWiley and Sons, NY, pp 51-94 (1995) and Todd et al., Vaccine 15:564-570(1997). In a preferred embodiment the adjuvant is at a concentration ofabout 0.01 to 50%, preferably at a concentration of about 2% to 30%,more preferably at a concentration of about 5% to 25%, still morepreferably at a concentration of about 7% to 22%, and most preferably ata concentration of 10% to 20% by volume of the final product. Of thepossible adjuvants used in combination with the present invention, it ispreferred to not use a metabolizable oil. In a preferred embodiment, theadjuvant is at least a non-metabolizable oil, preferably mineral oil. Inan alternate preferred embodiment, the vaccine composition containsessentially no oil-based adjuvants. In a most preferred embodiment thevaccine composition contains both a non-metabolizable oil, preferablymineral oil, and carbomer as adjuvants.

In addition, the immunogenic and vaccine compositions of the presentinvention can include one or more veterinary-acceptable carriers. Asused herein, “a veterinary-acceptable carrier” includes any and allsolvents, dispersion media, coatings, adjuvants, stabilizing agents,diluents, preservatives, excipients, antibacterial and antifungalagents, antimicrobic agents, isotonic agents, adsorption delayingagents, and the like. In some preferred embodiments, and especiallythose that include lyophilized immunogenic compositions, stabilizingagents for use in the present invention include stabilizers forlyophilization or freeze-drying.

“Diluents” can include water, saline, dextrose, ethanol, glycerol, andthe like. Isotonic agents can include sodium chloride, dextrose,mannitol, sorbitol, and lactose, among others. Stabilizers includealbumin and alkali salts of ethylendiamintetracetic acid, among others.

In a preferred embodiment, the immunogenic composition of the presentinvention is prepared comprising a preservative and a stabilizer; and,more preferably, the immunogenic composition of the present invention isprepared comprising gentamycin, EDTA, Glycerol, and combinationsthereof.

An “immunogenic or immunological composition” refers to a composition ofmatter that comprises at least one antigen, which elicits animmunological response in the host of a cellular and/orantibody-mediated immune response to the composition or vaccine ofinterest. Usually, an “immunological response” includes but is notlimited to one or more of the following effects: the production oractivation of antibodies, B cells, helper T cells, suppressor T cells,and/or cytotoxic T cells and/or gamma-delta T cells, directedspecifically to an antigen or antigens included in the composition orvaccine of interest. Preferably, the host will display either atherapeutic or protective immunological response such that resistance tonew infection will be enhanced and/or the clinical severity of thedisease reduced. Such protection will be demonstrated by either areduction or lack of clinical signs normally displayed by an infectedhost, a quicker recovery time and/or a lowered duration or bacterialtiter in the tissues or body fluids or excretions of the infected host.

The term “in need of such administration” or “in need of suchadministration treatment”, as used herein means that theadministration/treatment is associated with the boosting or improvementin health or any other positive medicinal effect on health of theanimals which receive the immunogenic composition in accordance with thepresent invention.

The term “West Nile Virus” antigen means, but is not limited to thecomponents of the WNV virion that are immunogenic when present in ananimal, and most particularly protein components, such as envelope andnon-structural proteins, of the WNV that provoke humoral or cellularimmune responses when present in an animal. Such antigens can includeDNA, protein subunits, modified live virus, and killed or inactivatedvirus. In preferred forms of the invention, the WNV antigen or antigenscomprise inactivated or killed, and even more preferably, North Americandominant, WNV strains.

The term “North American West Nile Virus (strains)” refers to, but isnot limited to any West Nile Virus strain or isolate that has ever beendiscovered on the North American continent. Preferably, a North AmericanWest Nile Virus strain has a sequence identity to the NY99 strain(GenBank accession no. AF196835 or NCBI reference sequence NC 00942.1(SEQ ID No. 23) of at least 97%, even more preferably, at least 98%,still more preferably, at least 98.5%, more preferably, at least 99%,even more preferably, at least 99.2%, and, most preferably of at least99.4%.

“Sequence Identity” as it is known in the art refers to a relationshipbetween two or more polypeptide sequences or two or more polynucleotidesequences, namely a reference sequence and a given sequence to becompared with the reference sequence. Sequence identity is determined bycomparing the given sequence to the reference sequence after thesequences have been optimally aligned to produce the highest degree ofsequence similarity, as determined by the match between strings of suchsequences. Upon such alignment, sequence identity is ascertained on aposition-by-position basis, e.g., the sequences are “identical” at aparticular position if at that position, the nucleotides or amino acidresidues are identical. The total number of such position identities isthen divided by the total number of nucleotides or residues in thereference sequence to give % sequence identity. Sequence identity can bereadily calculated by known methods, including but not limited to, thosedescribed in Computational Molecular Biology, Lesk, A. N., ed., OxfordUniversity Press, New York (1988), Biocomputing: Informatics and GenomeProjects, Smith, D. W., ed., Academic Press, New York (1993); ComputerAnalysis of Sequence Data, Part I, Griffin, A. M., and Griffin, H. G.,eds., Humana Press, New Jersey (1994); Sequence Analysis in MolecularBiology, von Heinge, G., Academic Press (1987); Sequence AnalysisPrimer, Gribskov, M. and Devereux, J., eds., M. Stockton Press, New York(1991); and Carillo, H., and Lipman, D., SIAM J. Applied Math., 48: 1073(1988), the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.Preferred methods to determine the sequence identity are designed togive the largest match between the sequences tested. Methods todetermine sequence identity are codified in publicly available computerprograms which determine sequence identity between given sequences.Examples of such programs include, but are not limited to, the GCGprogram package (Devereux, J., et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 12(1):387(1984)), BLASTP, BLASTN and FASTA (Altschul, S. F. et al., J. Molec.Biol., 215:403-410 (1990). The BLASTX program is publicly available fromNCBI and other sources (BLAST Manual, Altschul, S. et al., NCVI NLM NIHBethesda, Md. 20894, Altschul, S. F. et al., J. Molec. Biol.,215:403-410 (1990), the teachings of which are incorporated herein byreference). These programs optimally align sequences using default gapweights in order to produce the highest level of sequence identitybetween the given and reference sequences. As an illustration, by apolynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence having at least, forexample, 85%, preferably 90%, even more preferably 95% “sequenceidentity” to a reference nucleotide sequence, it is intended that thenucleotide sequence of the given polynucleotide is identical to thereference sequence except that the given polynucleotide sequence mayinclude up to 15, preferably up to 10, even more preferably up to 5point mutations per each 100 nucleotides of the reference nucleotidesequence. In other words, in a polynucleotide having a nucleotidesequence having at least 85%, preferably 90%, even more preferably 95%identity relative to the reference nucleotide sequence, up to 15%,preferably 10%, even more preferably 5% of the nucleotides in thereference sequence may be deleted or substituted with anothernucleotide, or a number of nucleotides up to 15%, preferably 10%, evenmore preferably 5% of the total nucleotides in the reference sequencemay be inserted into the reference sequence. These mutations of thereference sequence may occur at the 5′ or 3′ terminal positions of thereference nucleotide sequence or anywhere between those terminalpositions, interspersed either individually among nucleotides in thereference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within thereference sequence. Analogously, by a polypeptide having a given aminoacid sequence having at least, for example, 85%, preferably 90%, evenmore preferably 95% sequence identity to a reference amino acidsequence, it is intended that the given amino acid sequence of thepolypeptide is identical to the reference sequence except that the givenpolypeptide sequence may include up to 15, preferably up to 10, evenmore preferably up to 5 amino acid alterations per each 100 amino acidsof the reference amino acid sequence. In other words, to obtain a givenpolypeptide sequence having at least 85%, preferably 90%, even morepreferably 95% sequence identity with a reference amino acid sequence,up to 15%, preferably up to 10%, even more preferably up to 5% of theamino acid residues in the reference sequence may be deleted orsubstituted with another amino acid, or a number of amino acids up to15%, preferably up to 10%, even more preferably up to 5% of the totalnumber of amino acid residues in the reference sequence may be insertedinto the reference sequence. These alterations of the reference sequencemay occur at the amino or the carboxy terminal positions of thereference amino acid sequence or anywhere between those terminalpositions, interspersed either individually among residues in thereference sequence or in the one or more contiguous groups within thereference sequence. Preferably, residue positions which are notidentical differ by conservative amino acid substitutions. However,conservative substitutions are not included as a match when determiningsequence identity.

The term “North American Dominant West Nile Virus” strains and isolatesrefers to those strains or isolates defined as such in PhylogeneticAnalysis of North American West Nile Virus Isolates, 2001-2004: EvidenceFor the Emergence of a Dominant Genotype, C. Todd Davis, et. al,Virology 342, p. 252-265 (2005), the teaching and content of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein. As noted therein, NorthAmerican Dominant WNV strains or isolates have at least 1 nucleotidechange resulting in an amino acid change from the WN99 isolates. StrainNY99 (GenBank accession no. AF196835), an example of which is providedin SEQ ID. NO. 23, serves as a reference strain for determining if astrain or isolate is North American Dominant. In a preferred embodiment,the nucleotide change results in an amino acid change in an envelopeprotein of the strain or isolate and, more preferably, the nucleotidechange results in an amino acid change from valine to alanine atposition 159 in the critical envelope protein or “E159”. Preferably,this amino acid change is associated with a greater ability to replicatein the intermediate host, namely, the mosquito. In addition, thesestrains or isolates may have one or more silent amino acid changes.Preferably, North American Dominant strains also include either (andpreferably both) a U to C mutation and a C to U mutation at positions1442 and 2466 (in comparison to a North American strain, e.g. NY 99 andSEQ ID NO.23), respectively. Still more preferably, North AmericanDominant strains or isolates further include a mutation in thenucleotide sequence encoding the E protein and the C to U mutation atposition 9352 in the sequence encoding the NS5 protein (again incomparison to a North American strain, e.g. NY 99 and SEQ ID NO. 23).These preferred mutations are shown in detail for specific regions inExample 10 and FIGS. 10-17. Representative North American Dominant WNVstrains are listed in this application. Additionally, for purposes ofthe present invention North American Dominant and WN02 are usedinterchangeably.

For purposes of the present invention, Horse Origin 2005 strain NorthAmerican Equine E159, E159 (Horse Origin), NAEE159, United StatesDepartment of Agriculture Isolate 405330 (USDA 2005) Horse Origin, andE159 strain are used interchangeably. For purposes of the presentinvention, Donkey Origin 2004 strain, United States Department ofAgricultures Isolate 292206 (USDA 2004) Donkey Origin, E159 (DonkeyOrigin), and North American Donkey E159 (NADE159) are usedinterchangeably. E159 indicates that the amino acid change in theenvelope protein from valine to alanine occurs at position 159, asdescribed above.

West Nile Virus strains or isolates, for purposes of the presentinvention, are not limited to horse and equine West Nile Virus strainsbut encompass, while not being limited to, those West Nile Virus strainsof bird origin, donkey origin, pig origin, human origin, mammal origin,and equine origin.

For purposes of the present invention the terms “strain” and “isolate”have the same meaning and are used interchangeably.

As used herein, “a pharmaceutically” or “veterinary acceptable carrier”or “pharmaceutical carrier” includes any and all solvents, growth media,dispersion media, coatings, adjuvants, stabilizing agents, diluents,preservatives, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic agents,adsorption delaying agents, and the like.

An “immunogenic or immunological composition” refers to a composition ofmatter that comprises at least one antigen which elicits animmunological response in the host of a cellular and/orantibody-mediated immune response to the composition or vaccine ofinterest. Usually, an “immunological response” includes but is notlimited to one or more of the following effects: the production oractivation of antibodies, B cells, helper T cells, suppressor T cells,and/or cytotoxic T cells and/or gamma-delta T cells, and/or virusneutralizing antibodies directed specifically to an antigen or antigensincluded in the composition or vaccine of interest. Preferably, the hostwill display either a therapeutic or protective immunological responsesuch that resistance to new infection will be enhanced and/or theclinical severity of the disease reduced. Such protection will bedemonstrated by either a reduction or lack of clinical signs normallydisplayed by an infected host, a quicker recovery time and/or a loweredduration of clinical disease or higher viral antibody titer in thetissues or body fluids or excretions of the infected host, or lessenedviremia in the blood, or lessened gross or histopathological lesions dueto infection.

In addition, the immunogenic and vaccine compositions of the presentinvention can include one or more veterinary-acceptable carriers. Asused herein, “a veterinary-acceptable carrier” includes any and allsolvents, dispersion media, cell culture media and cell cultureconstituents, coatings, adjuvants, stabilizing agents, diluents,preservatives, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic agents,adsorption delaying agents, and the like. “Diluents” can include water,saline, buffered saline, dextrose, ethanol, glycerol, and the like.Isotonic agents can include sodium chloride, dextrose, mannitol,sorbitol, and lactose, among others. Stabilizers include albumin andalkali salts of ethylendiamintetracetic acid, among others.

“Clinical signs” of West Nile Virus, for purposes of this invention,include, but are not limited to, symptoms or lesions associated withencephalitis, viremia, anorexia, depression, fever, weakness, abnormalgait, paralysis of hind limbs, impaired vision, ataxia, aimlesswandering, convulsions, inability to swallow, coma, posterior weakness,paralysis, poor coordination, depression and related behavior, tremors,convulsions, paddling of the limbs, neurological problems, swelling ofthe central nervous system, death, and combinations thereof. Theclinical signs exhibited by an infected animal vary depending on theseverity of infection

“Clinical Signs” of Equine Herpes virus, for purposes of this inventioninclude, but are not limited to, abortion, neurological deficiencies,respiratory disease, reproductive system deficiencies and failure, andsymptoms relating to the central nervous system. Additionally, clinicalsymptoms of EHV 1 include, but are not limited to, the phenomenon offoals infected with EHV1, exhibiting respiratory complications, passingthe virus to the older members of the herd who then exhibit reproductivedeficiencies, including abortion, and neurological deficiencies,normally exhibited in the central nervous system.

“Clinical Signs” of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, Western EquineEncephalomyelitis, and Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis, for purposesof the present invention are those symptoms normally known to beassociated with encephalomyelitis, including, but are not limited tofever, nervous signs such as sensitivity to sound, periods ofexcitement, and restlessness, brain lesions, drowsiness, drooping ears,circling, abnormal gait, paralysis, loss of appetite, depression, headpressing, lack of coordination, long-term disability, brain damage,death, and combinations thereof. “Safety” as used herein, refers to theabsence of adverse consequences in the vaccinated animal followingvaccination, including but not limited to, potential reversion ofvaccine virus to virulence and clinically significant side effects, suchas persistent systemic illness or unacceptable inflammation at the siteof vaccine administration.

“Reduction of the incidence and/or severity of clinical signs” or“reduction in the incidence and/or severity of clinical symptoms”, asreferred to herein, means reducing the number of infected animals in agroup, reducing or eliminating the number of animals exhibiting clinicalsigns of infection, or reducing the severity of any clinical signs thatare present in the animals, in comparison to wild-type infection. Forexample, in the experiments herein, such clinical signs includedviremia, fever, antibody response, and histopathology. Preferably, theseare reduced in animals receiving the composition of the presentinvention by at least 10% in comparison to animals not receiving thevaccination which may become infected. More preferably, clinical signsare reduced in animals receiving the composition of the presentinvention by at least 20%, more preferably by at least 30%, even morepreferably by at least 40%, and even more preferably by at least 50%.

“Duration of Immunity,” as used herein, refers to the minimum number ofdays during which an animal produces an immunogenic response such thatthe animal will be relatively immune from contracting a virus and/orbenefit from reduction of incidence and/or severity of clinical signs,as described herein.

The terms “strain” and “isolate”, when used herein, are meant to be usedinterchangeably.

The terms “vaccine” and “immunogenic composition”, when used herein, aremeant to be used interchangeably.

Any West Nile Virus strain(s) or isolate(s) can be used in accordancewith the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the isolate isselected from one or more of the following: New York (Northeastern NorthAmerican) Isolate (WN-NY 99), Horse Origin, 1999, New York (NortheasternNorth American) Isolate (WN-NY 99), Crow Origin, 1999, United StatesDepartment of Agricultures Isolate 292206 (USDA 2004), Donkey Origin,United States Department of Agriculture Isolate 405330 (USDA 2005),Horse Origin, North American Isolate (WN-Texas-2002/2003), SoutheastTexas Coastal Isolate 2002, Mexico (Tabasco) Isolate 2003, andcombinations thereof, and in a more preferred embodiment the isolate isselected from one or more of the following: United States Department ofAgricultures Isolate 292206 (USDA 2004), Donkey Origin, United StatesDepartment of Agriculture Isolate 405330 (USDA 2005), Horse Origin,North American Isolate (WN-Texas-2002/2003), Southeast Texas CoastalIsolate 2002, Mexico (Tabasco) Isolate 2003, and combinations thereof.In a most preferred embodiment, the isolate is United States Departmentof Agriculture Isolate 405330 (USDA 2005), Horse Origin singularly or incombination with one or more isolates as listed above. In anadditionally preferred embodiment, those isolates which are part of theNorth American West Nile Virus isolates are included. In yet anotherpreferred embodiment North American Dominant West Nile Virus isolatesare included. In addition to those listed above, specific isolatesinclude, but are not limited to, WN02 and isolates which have at least1, preferably at least 2, and even more preferably at least 3 nucleotidechanges resulting in at least one amino acid change from the WN NY99isolates, and most preferred are strains with the amino acid change fromvaline to alanine at position 159 of the envelope protein. Mostpreferred North American Dominant strains include, but are not limitedto: NY2002Nassau, NY2002Clinton, NY2002Queens, GA20021, GA20022,TX20021, TX20022, IN2002, NY2003Albany, N.Y.2003Suffolk,NY2003Chatauqua, CO20031, CO20032, TX2003, TX2003Harris4, TX2003Harris6,TX2003Harris7, TX2003Harris10, AZ2004, and TX2004Harris4, andcombinations thereof. The strains of West Nile Virus useful in thevaccine or immunogenic composition of the present invention can be anystrain or isolate. In a preferred embodiment, the North AmericanDominant West Nile Virus strain used is either E-159 (Horse Origin) orE-159 (Donkey Origin). A representative strain of such a North AmericanDominant WNV strain includes the Horse Origin 2005 strain deposited withthe ATCC (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9409), located at 10801 UniversityBoulevard, Manassas, Va., 20110-2209, on Aug. 14, 2008, under theprovisions of the Budapest Treaty. Equine Influenza strains useful inthe vaccine or immunogenic composition of the present invention can beany strain or isolate. Representative strains include Equi-2/Ohio/03,deposited as ATCC Accession No. PTA-9522, Equi-2/Kentucky/95, depositedas ATCC Accession No. PTA-9523, and Equi-2/New Market/2/93, deposited asATCC Accession No. PTA-9524. Representative strains ATCC Accession Nos.PTA-9522, PTA-9523, and PTA-9524 were each deposited with the ATCC at10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va., 20110-2209 on Sep. 23, 2008,under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty.

Equine Herpes Virus (“EHV”) strains useful in the vaccine or immunogeniccomposition of the present invention can be any strain or isolate.Representative strains include EHV Subtype 1, deposited as ATCCAccession No. PTA-9525, and EHV Subtype 4, deposited as ATCC AccessionNo. PTA-9526. Representative strains ATCC Accession Nos. PTA-9525 andPTA-9526 were each deposited with the ATCC at 10801 UniversityBoulevard, Manassas, Va., 20110-2209 on Sep. 23, 2008, under theprovisions of the Budapest Treaty.

Western Equine Encephalomyelitis strains useful in the vaccine orimmunogenic composition of the present invention can be any strain orisolate. A representative strain includes the Fleming Strain, depositedwith the ATCC (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9410), located at 10801 UniversityBoulevard, Manassas, Va., 20110-2209, on Aug. 14, 2008, under theprovisions of the Budapest Treaty.

Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis strains useful in the vaccine orimmunogenic composition of the present invention can be any strain orisolate. A representative strain includes the TC-83 strain, depositedwith the ATCC (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9411), located at 10801 UniversityBoulevard, Manassas, Va., 20110-2209, on Aug. 14, 2008, under theprovisions of the Budapest Treaty.

Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis strains useful in the vaccine orimmunogenic composition of the present invention can be any strain orisolate. A representative strain includes the NJO strain, deposited withthe ATCC (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9412), located at 10801 UniversityBoulevard, Manassas, Va., 20110-2209, on Aug. 14, 2008, under theprovisions of the Budapest Treaty.

Tetanus toxoid strains useful in the vaccine or immunogenic compositionof the present invention can be any strain or isolate. A representativestrain is that taken from a master seed of Clostridium tetani from TheMassachusetts Department of Public Health Institute of Laboratories inBoston, Mass.

The vaccine of the present invention is safe for administration in WNVsusceptible species, particularly equidae, at any age and at any stageof reproduction, including pregnant females. In a preferred embodiment,the present invention is safe for administration to foals 12 months ofage or older, more preferably, it is safe for administration to foals 10months of age or older, more preferably, it is safe for administrationto foals 8 months or older, more preferably, it is safe foradministration to foals 6 months of age or older, more preferably, issafe for administration to foals 4 months of age or older, morepreferably, it is safe for administration to foals 2 months of age orolder, more preferably, it is safe for administration to foals 1 monthof age or older, even more preferably, it is safe for administration tofoals between 1 day and 1 month of age, and, most preferably, it is safefor administration to foals 1 day of age or older.

The composition of the present invention can be administered in anyconventional manner. Examples of administration methods include any thatafford access by cells of the immune system to the immunogeniccomposition including oral, transdermal/intradermal, intravenous,subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraocular, intraperitoneal, intrarectal,intravaginal, intranasal, intragastrical, intratracheal,intrapulmonarial, or any combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment,the vaccine is administered parenterally, preferably intranasally,subcutaneously, or intramuscularly, and in the most preferred embodimentthe vaccine is administered intramuscularly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graphical representation of the Mean Total Clinical Scores;

FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of the Proportion Shedding;

FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of the Nasal Discharge Score;

FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of Proportion Virus Shedding;

FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of Conjunctivitis Score;

FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of Serum Neutralization Titers;

FIG. 7 is a graphical representation of Proportion Positive for EHV-1;

FIG. 8 is a graphical representation of Mean White Blood Cell Count;

FIG. 9 is a graphical representation of Proportion Positive (pyrexic);

FIG. 10A through 10N is a nucleotide alignment of the HE region of WNVisolates (SEQ ID NOS 17-18 and 25-28, respectively, in order ofappearance);

FIG. 11A through 110 is a nucleotide alignment of the DE region of WNVisolates (SEQ ID NOS 17-18 and 29-32, respectively, in order ofappearance);

FIG. 12A through 12M is a nucleotide alignment of the D NS5 region ofWNV isolates (SEQ ID NOS 1-2 and 33-36, respectively, in order ofappearance);

FIG. 13A through 13M is a nucleotide alignment of the H NS5 region ofWNV isolates (SEQ ID NOS 1-2 and 37-40, respectively, in order ofappearance);

FIG. 14A through 14M is a nucleotide alignment of the H WN05 E NS5region of WNV isolates (SEQ ID NOS 1-6, respectively, in order ofappearance);

FIG. 15A through 150 is a nucleotide alignment of the H WN05 region ofWNV isolates (SEQ ID NOS 17-22, respectively, in order of appearance);

FIG. 16A through 16K is a nucleotide alignment of the NS5 region of WNVisolates (SEQ ID NOS 12-16, respectively, in order of appearance); and

FIG. 17A through 17Q is a nucleotide alignment of the E region of WNVisolates (SEQ ID NOS 7-11, respectively, in order of appearance).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Examples

The following examples are set forth below to illustrate specificembodiments of the present invention. These examples are merelyillustrative and are understood not to limit the scope or the underlyingprinciples of the present invention.

Example 1

This example illustrates a preferred vaccine composition in accordancewith the present invention.

Materials and Methods

For preparation of working cell stock, the Master Cell Stock (MCS),consisting of the Vero Cell Line known to propagate West Nile Virus,which was tested for purity, identity, and karyology, was thawed andused to inoculate a range of T25 up to T150 cm² vessels or 1050 cm²roller bottles, or bioreactors or other suitable sterile vessels. Thawedcells were suspended in growth medium at a rate of 0.0015 mL to 5.0 Lper vessel, depending on vessel volume. Cells were then incubated at36-38° C. for up to seven days. Cultures planted from frozen stock werere-fed with medium, if needed, within thirty-six hours after planting toremove residual DMSO. Cultures were re-fed with medium, if needed,during the growth period to remove excessive debris, or to stimulate thegrowth of cultures which have not reached confluence, or to maintainviability of confluent cultures.

Cells were passaged 1-20 times by decanting the spent medium and then byadding 5-500 mL of 0.25% Trypsin-EDTA Solution to each vessel, dependingupon vessel volume. The vessels were agitated gently until the cellsslough from the surface. The cells were then removed from the vessels byrinsing with growth medium and pooled together. Prior to inoculation,cell growth medium was decanted from Vero Working Cells that are atleast 55% confluent. Virus growth medium described was added to eachvessel at 0.15 to 0.4 mL per cm² surface area. A Multiplicity ofInfection (MOI) of 0.000001-0.0002 was used for infection as determinedby performing a cell count of at least two representative vessels.Roller bottle cultures infected were incubated at 36-38° C. for two tofive days at 0.1-0.8 rpm.

During the growth period, cultures were checked for typical CPEmicroscopically and for gross contamination macroscopically. Unsuitablecultures were discarded after sterilization. Cultures may be attenuatedusing standard techniques or may be used without attenuation.

The microorganisms were then harvested for production purposes. Virusfluids were harvested when CPE reached 85% or greater. Roller bottleswere swirled to remove loose cells, and fluids and then pooled intosterile 2-20 L glass, plastic, or PETG bottles, 20 L sterilepolypropylene containers or 2-500 L sterile stainless steel tankscontainers appropriate for clarification.

Next, the product was prepared. Clarified fluids were inactivated withFormaldehyde Solution, USP, 0.2% by volume, or another effectiveinactivating agent, transferred to a secondary container, and held at20-25° C. (room temperature) with agitation for forty-eight hours. Asample of at least 12 mL of the inactivated fluids was taken forinactivation assurance testing (described below) prior to concentration.After inactivation was completed, inactivated lot material was held at2-7° C. for up to sixty days prior to concentration. A number ofsuitable adjuvants may be added to the vaccine formulation, mostpreferably a non-metabolizable oil, preferably mineral oil, and/or acarbomer. Typical processing steps may be employed such as mixing,blending, microfluidization, and emulsification, of the adjuvant and/orthe harvested virus antigens with other ingredients.

The product was then standardized. Sufficient volumes of clarified,inactivated, concentrated (optional) lots were combined to provide acalculated titer of at least 10^(4.0) TCID₅₀ per dose of each strain inthe final product. Multiple lots may be blended to achieve the titerrequirements per dose.

The product was then assembled to final formulation. Based on thedesired final serial volume, the amounts of antigenic components,adjuvant, stabilizer and diluent were calculated as follows:

-   -   a. West Nile Virus, Horse Origin 2005 (ATCC No. PTA-9409):        minimum 10^(4.0) TCID₅₀/dose    -   b. Adjuvant: The total adjuvant concentration, preferably a non        metabolizable oil, and more preferably mineral oil and/or a        carbomer, in a serial is at least 10% v/v and is added at time        of serial batching/assembly.    -   c. Diluent: An appropriate volume of phosphate buffered saline        (PBS) is added to bring the final volume to the desired volume.    -   d. Additional Formalin: An appropriate volume of 37% Formalin is        added to maintain an appropriate level.    -   e. Gentamicin Sulfate

The required amounts of adjuvant and PBS were combined in a sterilevessel. The pH of this mixture was adjusted to approximately 4.9-5.1with 10N NaOH or 5N HCl if necessary. Clarified, killed, concentratedWest Nile Virus, as well as Gentamicin, and Formalin were added and thepH adjusted to 6.9 to 7.1. This was mixed at 2-6° C. for at least 8hours, not to exceed 48 hours.

The vaccine was given by typical hypodermic injection, with boostervaccinations if desired. Most preferably, the initial dose and thebooster doses were 1 mL volume administered intramuscularly at 21-dayintervals. The vaccination regimen of initial and booster dose was givenat the most preferred 1 mL dose volume to horses, other equidae, andother WNV susceptible species to reduce the incidence of and or severityof clinical signs of WNV infection, and preferably to prevent infectionby WNV as well as to prevent disease due to West Nile Virus infectionfor a sustained period following vaccination.

Results and Discussion

The vaccine was given by various appropriate parenteral routes, dosevolumes, and dosing regimens to animals of varying immunological statusfor WNV, including naive and those with passive antibody, and providedfor long duration of immunity up to and exceeding at least 2 yearsfollowing vaccination. The vaccine was safe for administration in WNVsusceptible species, particularly equidae, at any age and at any stageof reproduction, including pregnant females.

Example 2

This investigation was carried out to obtain an efficacy evaluation of avaccine to protect horses from challenge with West Nile Virus (WNV).

Materials and Methods

A total of 30 horses were randomly divided into groups of 15 horseseach. A total of 20 horses received 2 doses of vaccine at 21-dayintervals and 10 horses were used for control. Each group of horses,Block 1 and Block 2, contained 10 vaccinated horses and 5 controlhorses. The vaccine was a combination including WNV antigen,specifically an inactivated or killed North American Dominant Strain ofWNV, Horse Origin 2005 (ATCC Deposit No. PTA-9409) as well as antigeniccomponents of Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis, TC-83 strain (ATCCDeposit No. PTA-9411) Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, NJO strain (ATCCDeposit No. PTA-9412) Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, Fleming strain(ATCC Deposit No. PTA-9410) and Tetanus toxoid formulated approximatelyas follows:

Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis 10^(6.7-)10^(9.2) TCID₅₀/mL WesternEquine Encephalomyelitis 10^(6.7-)10^(9.2) PFU/mL Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis 10^(6.7-)10^(9.2) TCID₅₀/mL West Nile Virus10^(7.0)-10^(9.) TCID₅₀/mL Tetanus Toxoid 5-10 CPU/mL Adjuvant 100-200μl/mL Diluent - DMEM containing q.s. Gentamycin (30 μg/mL of diluentvolume) Formaldehyde (0.1% of diluent volume)

All groups were challenged with intrathecal inoculation of 1 ml PBScontaining approximately 10⁵ pfu of a heterologous strain of WNV (NY99,4132, crow isolate). The challenge was conducted under ketamine-xylazineanesthesia.

Horses were monitored for a maximum of 14 days, then humanelyeuthanized. Those that developed severe disease prior to 14 days wereeuthanized prematurely.

The following data were collected to assess the effectiveness of thevaccine:

-   -   Basic clinical evaluation    -   Body temperature    -   Assay for viremia    -   Histopathology: two sections of brainstem were evaluated by a        board-certified veterinary pathologist.

Sera collected on appropriate days were evaluated for characterizationof serologic responses to challenge.

Results and Discussion

Viremia after challenge and serum neutralization titers were consideredthe primary outcome variables in this study. The first block of horsesthat had been vaccinated were 100% protected from viremia afterchallenge in this study. In comparison, 4 of the 5 control horsesdemonstrated viremia for 4-5 days post-challenge and 1 of 5 controlhorses demonstrated viremia for 1 timepoint. In addition, serumneutralization titers of vaccinated horses were statisticallysignificantly higher than those of control horses at each time pointexamined after vaccination. Furthermore, the data establish that a WNVvaccine that provides a serum neutralization titer of 1:4 or higher iseffective in preventing WNV viremia. The serum titers and viremia afterchallenge for Block 1 is summarized in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Serum Titers and Viremia for Block 1 Serum Titer Viremia AfterChallenge Horse Number Treatment Day of Challenge Highest Titer 1Control <2 390 2 Vaccinate 12 <5 3 Vaccinate 12 <5 4 Control <2 65 5Control <2 1475 6 Vaccinate 6 <5 7 Vaccinate 97 <5 8 Vaccinate 10 <5 9Vaccinate 21 <5 10 Vaccinate 35 <5 11 Vaccinate 10 <5 12 Vaccinate 24 <513 Vaccinate 4 <5 14 Control <2 235 15 Control <2 165

Viremia after challenge and serum neutralization titers were alsoconsidered the primary outcome variables in the second block of horsesin this study. In the second block of horses only one vaccinate grouphorse displayed any timepoints of viremia throughout the challengeperiod. That horse had 3 separate timepoints on 3 mornings (not thosesame evenings) with minimal value readings of 5 (where <5 is negative).All control horses in the study (with the exception of one horse whichexited the study prematurely but displayed definitive WNV histopathologyand was excluded from evaluation) showed high levels of viremia for 1-8timepoints after challenge.

Since viremia is a prerequisite before virus can cross the blood-brainbarrier to cause WNV encephalitis, viremia is well justified as theprimary parameter for evaluation of protection in an experimental studyof this type.

This study demonstrated that 2 doses of the experimental combinationvaccine administered to foals 4 to 5 months of age reliably andeffectively stimulated protective serological serum neutralizationtiters. In addition the data confirm that post vaccination SN titers aslow as 1:4 resulting from vaccination using an effectively batchedantigen amount of West Nile Virus in this experimental combinationvaccine protected vaccinated horses from viremia, clinical disease, andhistopathology after a severe intrathecal challenge with a heterologousstrain of West Nile Virus.

Histopathology also was different between the two groups with thelikelihood of lesions in vaccinates being 40% less in Block 2 and 100%less in Block 1 than the likelihood of lesions in control animalschallenged with virulent West Nile virus.

In addition a Control Group horse became weak on his hind legs on Day 9post-challenge and got progressively worse until he was no longer ableto stand. Histopathology of the pons and medulla from this horse showedsevere encephalitis and myelitis consistent with WNV pathology that wasmore prevalent than signs of disease from any other horse in this study.

Two Block 2 control horses in this study displayed 3 days each ofclinical signs relating to infection with West Nile Virus. One othercontrol horse had a single timepoint of weakness due to disease. Anothercontrol horse did not display any timepoints of clinical signs, althoughit had multiple days of viremia. Although several vaccinated Block 2horses in the study had mild to moderate histopathological changes intissue as a result of the intrathecal challenge of WNV, only very mildclinical disease (mild head tremors) was noted for one vaccinate on oneday of the study as compared to multiple days of clinical disease in 2control horses and a single day of clinical disease in a third controlhorse.

The results demonstrated that the vaccine is effective and that animmunogenic reaction is induced in the animals that were administeredthe vaccine. The effectiveness of the vaccine was evidenced in thisexample by reduction in WNV viremia, by stimulation of high serumneutralization titers to WNV, and by prevention of WNV related clinicalsigns and histopathology in the brain and meninges. Because this vaccineis comprised of unique constituents, including a long lastingnon-metabolizable adjuvant, it was formulated in a low 1 mL dose volumeto provide a high degree of safety as a highly immunogenic low passagewhole inactivated virus WNV isolate of recent origin and highepidemiological prevalence, and a WNV isolated from the tissues of aninfected horse, it provides more comprehensive safety and effectivenessthan other vaccines currently available. Additionally, it has the effectof providing a safe vaccine when administered to animals.

Example 3

This example illustrates the efficacy of the immunogenic composition ofthe present invention against infection by EHV-4

Materials and Methods

Thirty-seven (37) horses, 4-5 months of age, were used in this study.Horses were randomly assigned to either vaccinate or control groups byrandom number generator and then vaccinated. Twenty-four (24) horsesserved as vaccinates and thirteen (13) horses were mock-vaccinatedcontrol horses. All horses had low (≦1:14, avg.=1:7) EHV-4 serumneutralization (SN) titers prior to initiation of the study, indicativeof horses susceptible to infection. The vaccine used was an experimentalvaccine and had the following components:

The final formulated vaccine contains the following ingredients per 1 mLdose:

EHV-1 (PTA-9525) 10^(7.0-9.0) TCID₅₀/mL Influenza A2/Ohio/03 (PTA-9522)10^(6.0-9.5) TCID₅₀/mL Influenza A2/KY/95 (PTA-9523 10^(6.0-9.5)TCID₅₀/mL Influenza A2/NewMarket/2/93 (PTA-9524) 10^(6.0-9.5) TCID₅₀/mLTetanus Toxoid 5-10 CPU Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis, 10^(6.7-9.2)TCID₅₀/mL (ATCC Deposit No. PTA-9412) Western Equine Encephalomyelitis,10^(6.7-9.2) PFU/mL (ATCC Deposit No. PTA-9410) Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis, 10^(6.7-9.2) TCID₅₀/mL (ATCC Deposit No. PTA-9411)West Nile Virus, Horse Origin 2005 10^(7.0-9.0) TCID₅₀/mL (ATCC DepositNo. PTA-9409) Adjuvant 100-200 μl Glycerol 100-200 μl EDTA 240 mMsolution 10-20 μl Diluent - DMEM containing q.s. Gentamicin (30 μg/mL ofdiluent volume) Formaldehyde (0.1-0.2% of diluent volume)

The Experimental Vaccine was administered intramuscularly in a 1 mL dosevolume to each of 24 horses in the vaccinate group. Thirteen horses inthe control group received a 1 mL dose of adjuvanted DMEM (Lot 004)containing excipients used in the 9-way vaccine (Gentamicin andformaldehyde) but no antigens. Challenge inoculation of virulent EHV-4HRA005 strain virus was performed 15 days post-booster vaccination.

Each of the vaccinated and control horses was challenged with an EHV-4strain of virus (HRA005). The titer of the dilute challenge virus wassufficient to provoke disease due to EHV infection in the non-vaccinatedhorses.

SEDIVET® (romifidine hydrochloride), a sedative and analgesic, wasadministered intravenously to each horse prior to challenge at a dosageof 50 μg/kg of body weight. Each horse was then challenged with theEHV-4 strain HRA005 virus. The challenge virus was administeredintranasally as an aerosol produced by a nebulizer into an EquineAeroMask (Trudell Medical International, Ontario, Canada).

Daily morning rectal temperatures were recorded for each of the 37vaccinated and control horses on Day of Challenge and for 14 days postchallenge by means of a calibrated, electronic thermometer (GSAElectronics) probe. The daily rectal temperatures were recorded indegrees Fahrenheit (° F.).

Complete Blood Cell Counts

Venous blood from each of the 37 vaccinated and control horses wascollected daily on the Day of Challenge and for 14 days post-challengedirectly into a Vacutainer Disodium EDTA tube for Complete Blood Counts.

Nasal Exudate Evaluation

All nasal exudate observations were made prior to collection ofnasopharyngeal swabs. On the Day of Challenge and for 14 days postchallenge, the nasal passages and muzzle of each of the 37 vaccinatedand control horses were examined and graded using the grading andscoring description listed below.

The scoring grades of 0 through 6 were assigned on the basis of theseverity of the disease indicated by each of the followingclassifications:

TABLE 2 Scores for Clinical Symptoms Score sheet Score Description ofsymptoms designation 0 Essentially normal indicates the horse EN wasclean and essentially free of nasal exudate 1 Slight clear serousdischarge that may C-1 be frequently observed in both diseased andnormal horses 2 Moderate clear serous discharge is C-2 indicative of adefinite increase in volume over that normally observed 3 Copious clearserous discharge that is C-3 generally observed only in diseased horses1.5 Very slight mucopurulent discharge VSM indicates that mucus wasdefinitely present in small amounts in either one or both nostrils 2Slightly mucopurulent is a discharge SM easily observed in one or bothnostrils 4 Moderately mucopurulent indicates that MM mucoid dischargeswere present in large quantities in both nostrils 6 Heavy mucopurulentindicates that HM copious amounts of a mucoid discharge filled bothnostrils

Nasopharyngeal Viral Isolation Methods

On each observation test day each nasal passage of each vaccinated andcontrol was sampled deeply by means of sterile swabs. On collection,each of two swabs were immediately placed in a single tube containing 4mL of chilled transport medium (Dulbecco's Minimal Essential Medium(DMEM) supplemented with 2% FBS, 2× Pen/Strep, 2× Gentamicin, and 2×Amphotericin B).

For isolation of virus, the tubes were mixed, the swabs asepticallyremoved, and the medium centrifuged at 1500 rpm for 10 minutes to removeparticulates. Medium was filtered through a 0.2μ syringe filter prior toinoculation on tissue culture cells. One mL of the clarified transportmedium was used to inoculate a 2 cm² one day old monolayer of ED cellsgrown in a 24 well tissue culture plate from which the growth medium hadbeen aseptically removed. Following inoculation, the inoculum wasallowed to adsorb on the cell monolayer for one hour at 37° C. in ahumidified incubator containing a 5% CO₂ atmosphere. After theadsorption period, an additional 1 mL of re-feed medium (DMEM containing2-5% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 2 mM L-glutamine and 3× Gentamicin and 2×Amphotericin B) was added to each well. Following addition of re-feedmedia the plates were then incubated at 37° C. in a CO₂ incubator. Eachtest and control tissue culture well was examined microscopically for 7days for signs of cytopathic effect (CPE) typical of the EHV-4 challengevirus. Wells that were negative at the end of the 7 day observationperiod were subcultured onto fresh cells and observed for an additional7 days.

Serum Neutralization Testing Procedure

A standard microtiter serum neutralization test was employed in thisstudy. All sera were tested in sterile flat bottom microtiter platesusing 5 wells per dilution and an 8 well dilution series for each of the5 test wells. Each of the 5 test wells contained 25 μl of serum dilutionmixed with 25 μl of the indicator virus and 150 μl of a freshly plantedED cell suspension containing approximately 5×10⁴ cells. The testindicator virus used was EHV-4 HRA005 Lot 033106 SN Stock Virus. In alltests the indicator virus back titration titers ranged between 68-149TCID₅₀/25 μl. Serum neutralizing antibody titers are expressed asReed-Muench ID₅₀ titers.

For performance of the test, two-fold dilutions of each test serum wasmade in a sterile flat bottom microtiter plate using five replicatewells per test serum and an 8 well dilution series. Dilutions were madewith an adjustable volume single or multi-channel pipetting instrumentusing sterile microtiter tips. The volume of serum added each of 5 wellsof the first row was 50 μl. All other wells contained 25 μl of DMEM (noFBS). Following serial dilution down the plate, 25 μl was discarded fromthe last row. 25 μl of a pre-determined dilution of the indicator viruswas added to each test well. Plates were then mixed and incubated forone hour at 37° C. in 5% CO₂. On conclusion of the incubation period,150 μl of a suspension containing 5×10⁴ ED cells was added to each testand cell control well. The plates were incubated at 37° C. in a CO₂incubator for 5-7 days, at which time plates were microscopicallyexamined for CPE typical of EHV-4. However, any other commercialavailable test or any test described in the prior art could be used forthis purpose.

Results and Conclusion Nasal Exudate Evaluation

The vaccination group by day interaction was statistically significantfor the nasal discharge scores (P<0.05, Table 1). Statisticallysignificant group effects were seen on Days 6-10 and Day 14post-challenge (lower nasal scores in the vaccinated group).

When the daily scores were summed over the post-challenge period, horsesin the vaccinated group had lower total scores than those in the controlgroup (P<0.05, Table 1). The mitigated fraction was estimated to be0.824 (95% ASE CI: 0.629, 1.000).

TABLE 3 Nasal Discharge Score Mitigated fraction Control VaccinateP-value (95% ASE CI) Cumulative nasal 28.9 13.6 <0.0001 0.824 dischargescore (0.629, 1.000)

Conjunctivitis

The vaccination group by day interaction was statistically significantfor the conjunctivitis scores. Statistically significant group effectswere seen on Days 6, 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 post-challenge (lower scores inthe vaccinated group on 5 of the 6 days, P<0.05, FIG. 2).

Serological Studies

Titers were log transformed prior to the statistical analysis. Thevaccination group by day interaction was statistically significant forSN titers. Statistically significant group effects were seen on Day 0(pre-vaccination; control group titers>vaccinated group titers), Days 35(the day of challenge) and 7 and 14 days post-challenge (study days 42and 49). Horses in the vaccinated group had higher titers on Days 35, 42and 49 than those in the control group (P<0.05, Table 4).

TABLE 4 Titers Study day Control Vaccinated P-value 0 8.31 5.74 0.030321 8.25 6.51 0.1639 35 (day of challenge) 6.12 8.56 0.0495 42 4.57 7.270.0069 49 4.87 13.12 <0.0001

White Blood Cell Counts (WBC) and Lymphocyte Counts

The vaccination group by day interaction was statistically significantfor WBC and lymphocyte counts. Statistically significant group effectswere seen on Days 4-6 (WBC) and Days 4 and 5 (lymphocytes)post-challenge. Horses in the vaccinated group were protected fromleucopenia due to EHV4 disease and had higher WBC and lymphocyte countsthan those in the control group (P<0.05).

Discussion and Conclusions

In this study, moderate and adequate clinical signs of EHV-4 infectionwere seen after challenge. Significantly fewer clinical signs of nasalexudate were seen in vaccinated horses on Days 6-10 and Day 14post-challenge. Conjunctivitis scores were significantly lower invaccinated horses on Days 7, 9, 10, 13, and 14 post-challenge. Despitethe adequate display of clinical signs following challenge, virusshedding in nasal swab samples was infrequent following this EHV-4challenge. Nasal swabs were examined by virus isolation in cell culture.

Significant group effects for WBCs and lymphocytes were seen on Days 4-6(WBC) and Days 4-5 (lymphocytes) with vaccinated animals showing higherWBC and lymphocyte counts than control horses. These values establishthat control horses did succumb to the immunosuppression brought on byinfection with Herpesvirus, and also demonstrate that vaccination with across-protective strain of EHV-1 allowed vaccinated horses to be morerefractive to the immunosuppressive properties of Herpesvirus infection.Additionally, horses in the vaccinated group had higher serumneutralization titers on Days 35, 42 and 49 than those in the controlgroup

Data from this study confirm that horses vaccinated with amulti-component vaccine containing EHV-1 demonstrate cross-protectiveimmunity when challenged with a heterologous EHV-4 challenge organism.

Example 4

This example is to illustrate the efficacy of the combination vaccine ofthe present invention as well as duration of immunity.

Materials and Methods

The influenza viral antigen used in the vaccine evaluated in this studywas produced on Madin Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells. Followinggrowth, viral fluids were filtered, formalin inactivated, andconcentrated. The inactivated viral fluids were tested for residual livevirus after inactivation. On completion of satisfactory residual livevirus testing the inactivated viral fluids were then used to formulate avaccine which also contained inactivated Venezuelan, TC-83 strain (ATCCAccession No. PTA-9411), Eastern, NJO strain (ATCC Accession No.PTA-9412), and Western, Fleming strain (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9410),equine encephalomyelitis viruses, inactivated EHV-1 (ATCC Accession No.PTA-9525), inactivated influenza A/equine-2/Kentucky/95 (ATCC AccessionNo. PTA-9523) and influenza A/equine-2/NewMarket/2/93 (ATCC AccessionNo. PTA-9524) viruses, inactivated West Nile Virus, Horse Origin 2005(ATCC Accession No. PTA-9409), and tetanus toxoid.

Vaccine was formulated to appropriate specifications for all antigensincluded in the product. Influenza A/equi-2/Ohio/03 (ATCC Accession No.PTA-9522) antigen was added to the vaccine at a pre-inactivation titerof 10^(6.7) TCID₅₀/mL.

The final formulated vaccine contains the following ingredients per 1 mLdose:

EHV-1 10^(7.0-9.0) TCID₅₀/mL Influenza A2/Ohio/03 10^(6.7-9.5) TCID₅₀/mLInfluenza A2/KY/95 10^(6.7-9.5) TCID₅₀/mL Influenza A2/NewMarket/2/9310^(6.7-9.5) TCID₅₀/mL Tetanus Toxoid 5-10 CPU Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis 10^(6.7-9.2) TCID₅₀/mL Western EquineEncephalomyelitis 10^(6.7-9.2) PFU/mL Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis 10^(6.7-9.2) TCID₅₀/mL West Nile Virus 10^(7.0--9.0)TCID₅₀/mL Adjuvant (preferably mineral oil) 100-200 μl Glycerol 100-200μl EDTA 240 mM solution 10-20 μl Diluent - DMEM containing q.s.Gentamicin (30 μg/mL of diluent volume) Formaldehyde (0.1-0.2% ofdiluent volume)

Twenty-six (26) horses, 4-5 months of age, were used in this study.Fifteen horses served as vaccinates and eleven horses weremock-vaccinated control horses.

Vaccine was administered intramuscularly in a 1 mL dose volume to eachof 15 horses in the vaccinate group. Eleven horses in the control groupreceived a 1 mL dose of adjuvanted DMEM (Lot 004) containing excipientsused in the 9-way vaccine (Gentamicin and formaldehyde) but no antigens.Challenge inoculation of virulent influenza A/equi-2/Ohio/03 strainvirus was performed 4 months post-booster vaccination.

Serum samples for serological evaluation were collected from thevaccinated and control horses prior to initial vaccination, at 21 dayspost first dose vaccination (day of booster vaccination), on the day ofchallenge, and at 7 and 14 days post challenge. Body temperature, wholeblood samples, and nasal swabs were obtained from each horse on the dayof challenge, and daily throughout the 10 day post-challenge observationperiod for a total of 11 observation days. Clinical data was alsorecorded daily for each horse for the 11-day observation period.

Challenge

The challenge virus seed of Influenza A/equi-2/Ohio/03 was produced ineggs. Challenge virus was diluted on the morning of challenge 1:20 withtissue culture media to affect a titer sufficient to cause clinicalinfluenza in the non-vaccinated challenged horses.

SEDIVET® (romifidine hydrochloride), a sedative and analgesic, wasadministered intravenously to each horse prior to challenge at a dosageof 50 μg/kg of body weight. Each horse was then challenged withinfluenza A/equi-2/Ohio/03 virus. The challenge virus was administeredintranasally as an aerosol produced by a nebulizer into an EquineAeroMask (Trudell Medical International, Ontario, Canada) by thefollowing method:

Four milliliters of challenge virus were placed into the nebulizer cupin the AeroMask device. A pressure hose was fitted from an aircompressor to the inlet port of the nebulizer. The outlet tube was theninserted into the AeroMask attached to the head of the horse beingchallenged and air pressure was applied to the inlet port. During thistime approximately two milliliters of challenge virus fluid wasaerosolized directly into the nostrils of the horse being challenged.

Temperature

Daily rectal temperatures were recorded for each of the 26 vaccinatedand control horses on Day of Challenge and for 10 days post challenge bymeans of a calibrated, electronic thermometer (GSA Electronics) probe.The daily rectal temperatures were recorded in degrees Fahrenheit (°F.).

White Blood Cell Counts

Venous blood from each of the 26 vaccinated and control horses wascollected daily on the Day of Challenge and for 10 days post-challengedirectly into a vacutainer Disodium EDTA tube for WBC counts.

Nasal Exudate Evaluation

All nasal exudate observations were made prior to collection ofnasopharyngeal swabs. On the Day of Challenge and for 10 days postchallenge, the nasal passages and muzzle of each of the 26 vaccinatedand control horses were examined and graded using the grading andscoring description listed below.

The scoring grades of 0 through 6 were assigned on the basis of theseverity of the disease indicated by each of the followingclassification:

TABLE 5 Scoring Grades Score sheet Score Description of symptomsdesignation 0 Essentially normal indicates the horse EN was clean andessentially free of nasal exudate 1 Slight clear serous discharge thatmay C-1 be frequently observed in both diseased and normal horses 2Moderate clear serous discharge is C-2 indicative of a definite increasein volume over that normally observed 3 Copious clear serous dischargethat is C-3 generally observed only in diseased horses 1.5 Very slightmucopurulent discharge VSM indicates that mucus was definitely presentin small amounts in either one or both nostrils 2 Slightly mucopurulentis a discharge SM easily observed in one or both nostrils 4 Moderatelymucopurulent indicates that MM mucoid discharges were present in largequantities in both nostrils 6 Heavy mucopurulent indicates that HMcopious amounts of a mucoid discharge filled both nostrils

Coughing

Episodes of coughing on each observation day were counted for each horseduring the entirety of the observation period, whether or not theindividual animal was being examined by the investigator at that time.Observers other than the investigator recorded the number of episodes ofcoughing of each individual horse during the observation period. Scoringof coughing episodes was actual counts of coughing episodes per horse.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis was evaluated daily at the time of nasal exudateevaluation. Conjunctivitis scores were recorded as 0=normal; 1=mild tomoderate conjunctivitis and 2=severe conjunctivitis.

Nasopharyngeal Viral Isolation/Hemagglutination (Ha) Methods

On each observation test day each nasal passage of each vaccinated andcontrol was sampled deeply by means of sterile swabs. On collection,each of two swabs was immediately placed in a single tube containing 4mL of chilled transport medium (Dulbecco's Minimal Essential Medium(DMEM) supplemented with 2% FBS, 2× Pen/Strep, 2× Amphotericin B).

For isolation of virus, the tubes were mixed, the swabs asepticallyremoved, and the medium centrifuged at 1500 rpm for 10 to 15 minutes toremove particulates. Medium was filtered through a 0.2μ syringe filterprior to inoculation on tissue culture cells. After filtration, 4-6% ofsterile 85% sucrose solution was added to each sample for freezing at−80° C. in order for all samples to be tested concurrently.

All samples were tested in sterile flat bottom microtiter plates usingfive wells per dilution and a 4 well dilution series for each of the 5test wells. Upon thawing, 22 μL of the clarified sample medium was usedto inoculate one day old monolayer of MDCK-S cells from which the growthmedium had been aseptically removed and replaced with 200 μl ofinfluenza growth medium (DMEM containing 5-10 units/mL of 10,000 U stocksolution Porcine Trypsin, 2 mM L-glutamine, 1× Pen-Strep and 1×Amphotericin B). The plates were then incubated at 35° C. in a CO₂incubator for 5-7 days. After the 5-7 day incubation period, 500 fromall wells of the titration plates were transferred directly into alabeled 96 well vinyl HA plate. Chicken red blood cells were added toeach well and allowed to settle for 30-90 minutes at room temperature.Wells were read for positive agglutination as evidence of presence ofequine influenza virus.

Hemagglutination Inhibition (Hi) Testing Procedure

Serum samples were prepared by dispensing 0.15 ml of each sample into atest tube and extracting with 0.3 mL of 0.01M Sodium Periodate Solutionat room temperature for 15 minutes. Glycerol Solution 3% (0.125 mL) wasadded to each tube, mixed and incubated at room temperature for 15minutes. All samples were then heat-inactivated at 56° C. for 30minutes.

A 0.5% solution of chicken red blood cells was prepared in PBS (SAFCcatalog number 59321C) and standardized to an optical density of 0.5 at550 nm.

Extracted serum samples were tested in duplicate in U bottom polystyreneplates using a 2-fold dilution scheme in PBS ranging from 1:4 to 1:256,25 ul per well. Influenza A/Equi2/Ohio03 stock virus (25 μL) was addedto serum sample dilution. Plates were gently tapped to mix, andincubated at room temperature for 30 minutes. After incubation, chickenred blood cells were added to each well and incubated undisturbed atroom temperature for 1 to 1.5 hours. Results were read by observingplates for presence or absence of agglutinated red blood cells in eachwell. Antibody titer was determined as the highest dilution of serum atwhich agglutination did not occur.

Results and Conclusions

When pooled across all timepoints post-challenge, vaccinated animals hadlower total clinical scores than the control animals. When the totaldaily scores were summed over the post-challenge period, horses in thevaccinated group had lower total scores than those in the control group(P<0.05). The mitigated fraction was estimated to be 0.6485 (95% ASE CI:0.3258, 0.9712).

TABLE 6 Total Clinical Score Vaccination Group by day Outcome variablegroup Day interaction Total clinical score¹ <0.0001 <0.0001 0.1321 ¹TheGLIMMIX procedure would not converge, thus an ANOVA approach was used toevaluate the effect of vaccination over time after challenge. Resultswere interpreted through the bolded values.

TABLE 7 Mitigated fraction - total cumulative clinical score Mitigatedfraction² Control Vaccinate P-value¹ (95% ASE CI) Total cumulative18.36³ 9.93 0.0055 0.6485 clinical score² (0.3258, 0.9712) ¹P-value fromWilcoxon's rank sum test ²Nasal discharge score, conjunctivitis scoreand coughing score were summed with day and across all time points foreach animal then ranked for the estimation of the mitigated fraction.³Mean rank

Nasal Discharge

The main effect of vaccination was statistically significant and reducednasal discharge due to the influenza challenge. When pooled across alltime points post-challenge, vaccinated animals had lower nasal dischargescores than the control animals.

TABLE 8 Nasal Discharge Score Vaccination Group by day Outcome variablegroup Day interaction Nasal discharge score¹ 0.0012 <0.0001 0.4627 ¹TheGLIMMIX procedure would not converge, thus an ANOVA approach was used toevaluate the effect of vaccination over time after challenge. Resultswere interpreted through the bolded values.

Conjunctivitis

For conjunctivitis, the main effect of vaccination was statisticallysignificant. When pooled across all time points post-challenge,vaccinated animals had reduced conjunctivitis due to influenza infectionas demonstrated by lower conjunctivitis scores than the control animals.

TABLE 9 Conjunctivitis Score Vaccination Group by day Outcome variablegroup Day interaction Conjunctivitis score¹ 0.0187 0.0001 0.2498 ¹TheGLIMMIX procedure would not converge, thus an ANOVA approach was used toevaluate the effect of vaccination over time after challenge. Resultswere interpreted through the bolded values.

Coughing

Vaccine also protected against the cough resulting from equine influenzainfection. Vaccinated animals had lower scores (P<0.05,) on Days 3, 5,7, 8, and 9 post-challenge than control animals.

TABLE 10 Coughing Score Vaccination Group by day Outcome variable groupDay interaction Coughing score¹ 0.0004 0.0009 0.0275 ¹The GLIMMIXprocedure would not converge, thus an ANOVA approach was used toevaluate the effect of vaccination over time after challenge. Resultswere interpreted through the bolded values.

Virus Shedding (Nasal Swabs)

The vaccination also reduced the percent of horses shedding virus(P<0.05). The figure below represents that the percentage of vaccinatedanimals shedding virus was lower (P<0.05) on Days 3, 4, and 5post-challenge than control animals.

TABLE 11 Mitigated fraction - days virus shedding Mitigated fraction²Control Vaccinate P-value¹ (95% ASE CI) Days virus 2³ 0 0.0004 0.7939positive^(2,3) (0.5343, 1.0000) ¹P-value from Wilcoxon's rank sum test²The number of days of viral shedding was calculated then ranked for theestimation of the mitigated fraction. Asymptotic standard errors (ASE)were used to estimate the 95% confidence intervals (CI). ³The mediannumber of days positive results was obtained from the virus isolationassay.

Hi Titers

The vaccine was also effective in eliciting protective antibody titersto equine influenza virus. Statistically significant higher titers inthe vaccinated horses were seen on Day 36 (relative to vaccination), Day154 (the day of challenge), 159 and 164. Horses in the vaccinated grouphad higher titers on each of these days than those in the control group(P<0.05).

WBC and Lymphocyte Counts

The vaccination also protected horses from reduction in white blood cellcounts seen following influenza virus challenge. (P<0.05). Vaccinationwith the combination vaccine provided statistically significantprotection that was seen on Days 2 and 7 for WBC counts, and Days 2, 6,7, and 8 post-challenge. Horses in the vaccinated group had higher WBCand lymphocyte counts than those in the control group (P<0.05). A fourmonth Duration of Immunity challenge was performed to demonstrateefficacy of the influenza virus fractions of a multi-component vaccinethat included West Nile Virus vaccine(Encephalomyelitis-Rhinopneumonitis-Influenza-West Nile Virus Vaccine,Eastern, Western & Venezuelan, Killed Virus, Tetanus Toxoid) containing3 Equine influenza A/equi-2 virus strains, ATCC Accession Nos. PTA-9522,PTA-9523, and PTA-9524, each of which is currently relevant in theequine population of the Americas, Europe and Asia. Twenty-six horses(15 vaccinates and 11 controls) were vaccinated twice in 3 weekintervals with a 1 mL dose of vaccine, or were mock vaccinated withadjuvanted media components of the vaccine without viral antigen. Fourmonths post-booster vaccination, horses were challenged with a virulentlive Equine Influenza A/equi-2/Ohio03 virus. This virulent virus is thecurrent Equine Influenza A/equi-2 strain recommended for inclusion intovaccines by OIE and is currently recognized as the most pertinent straininvolved in outbreaks in the United States.

Results from this 4-month DOI challenge study show significantprotective effects from challenge by vaccination with the test vaccine,a combination West Nile Virus vaccine with flu and other pertinentequine antigens. Importantly, vaccinated horses displayed statisticallylower total clinical signs of influenza virus (nasal discharge,conjunctivitis, and coughing, P=0.0055) with a mitigated fractionestimated to be 0.6485 (95% ASE CI: 0.3258, 0.9712). Additionally, viralshedding was statistically lower in vaccinated horses than controlhorses (P=0.0004) with a mitigated fraction estimated to be 0.7939 (95%ASE CI: 0.5343, 1.0000). Hemagglutination inhibition titers weresignificantly higher in vaccinated horses than control horses, and whiteblood cell and lymphocyte counts remained significantly higher invaccinated horses on multiple days of the study over those of controlhorses. No differences in rectal temperature were determined between thetwo groups.

In conclusion, the data from this study demonstrate that administrationof 2×1 mL intramuscular doses of this West Nile Virus combinationvaccine administered at a 21 day interval to foals 4 to 5 months of ageprotected against virulent challenge with the Equine InfluenzaA/equi-2/Ohio03 virus and provided a duration of immunity of at least 4months for this product.

Example 5

This example illustrates the efficacy of an immunogenic composition ofthe present invention when challenged with (Equine Herpes Virus Type 1)EHV-1.

Materials and Methods

The EHV-1 viral antigen used in the vaccine evaluated in this study wasproduced on Madin Darby Bovine Kidney (MDBK) cells. Following growth,viral fluids were filtered, BPL inactivated, and concentrated. Theinactivated viral fluids were tested for residual live virus afterinactivation. On completion of satisfactory residual live virus testing,the inactivated viral fluids were then used to formulate a vaccine whichalso contained inactivated Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis, TC-83strain (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9411) Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis,NJO strain (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9412) and Western EquineEncephalomyelitis, Fleming strain (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9410) viruses,inactivated influenza A/equine-2/Kentucky/95 (ATCC Accession No.PTA-9523), influenza A/equine-2/NewMarket/2/93 (ATCC Accession No.PTA-9524) and influenza A/equine-2/Ohio/03 (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9522)viruses, inactivated West Nile Virus (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9409) andtetanus toxoid.

Vaccine was formulated to minimum specifications for all antigensincluded in the product. EHV-1 antigen was added to the vaccine at apre-inactivation titer of 10^(7.0) TCID₅₀/mL.

The final formulated vaccine contains the following ingredients per 1 mLdose:

EHV-1 10^(7.0-9.0) TCID₅₀/mL Influenza A2/Ohio/03 10^(6.7-9.5) TCID₅₀/mLInfluenza A2/KY/95 10^(6.7-9.5) TCID₅₀/mL Influenza A2/NewMarket/2/9310^(6.7-9.5) TCID₅₀/mL Tetanus Toxoid 5-10 CPU Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis 10^(6.7-9.2) TCID₅₀/mL Western EquineEncephalomyelitis 10^(6.7-9.2) PFU/mL Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis 10^(6.7-9.2) TCID₅₀/mL West Nile Virus 10^(7.0--9.0)TCID₅₀/mL Adjuvant (preferably mineral oil) 100-200 μl Glycerol 100-200μl EDTA 240 mM solution 10-20 μl Diluent - DMEM containing q.s.Gentamicin (30 μg/mL of diluent volume) Formaldehyde (0.1-0.2% ofdiluent volume)

Forty (40) horses, 4-5 months of age, were used in this study. Horseswere randomly assigned to either vaccinate or control groups and weremicro-chipped and then vaccinated. Twenty horses served as vaccinatesand twenty horses were mock-vaccinated control horses. All horses hadnegative to low (<1:6) EHV-1 serum neutralization (SN) titers prior toinitiation of the study, indicative of horses susceptible to infection.

Vaccine was administered intramuscularly in a 1 mL dose volume to eachof 20 horses in the vaccinate group. Twenty horses in the control groupreceived a 1 mL dose of adjuvanted DMEM (Lot 004) containing excipientsused in the 9-way vaccine (Gentamycin and formaldehyde) but no antigens.Challenge inoculation of virulent EHV-1 A183 strain virus was performed15 days post-booster vaccination.

Serum samples for serological evaluation were collected from thevaccinated and control horses prior to initial vaccination, at 21 dayspost first dose vaccination (day of booster vaccination), on the day ofchallenge, and at 7 and 14 days post challenge. Body temperature, wholeblood samples, and nasal swabs were obtained from each horse on the dayof challenge, and daily throughout the 14 day post-challenge observationperiod for a total of 15 observation days. Clinical data was alsorecorded daily for each horse for the 15-day observation period.

Challenge Procedure Challenge Virus

The original challenge virus seed used in this challenge study was thefirst passage of the original seed virus on Equine Dermal (ED) cells.This challenge virus was harvested and frozen at a titer of 10^(6.2)TCID₅₀/mL.

Intranasal Challenge Method

SEDIVET® (romifidine hydrochloride), a sedative and analgesic, wasadministered intravenously to each horse prior to challenge at a dosageof 50 μg/kg of body weight. Each horse was then challenged withapproximately 10^(6.5) TCID₅₀ of EHV-1 strain. The challenge virus wasadministered intranasally as an aerosol produced by a nebulizer into anEquine AeroMask (Trudell Medical International, Ontario, Canada) by thefollowing method:

A pressure hose was fitted from an air compressor to the inlet port ofthe nebulizer. The outlet tube was then inserted into the AeroMaskattached to the head of the horse being challenged and approximately 10psi of air pressure was applied to the inlet port for four minutes.During this time approximately two milliliters of a 10⁶² TCID₅₀/mLchallenge virus fluid was aerosolized directly into the nostrils of thehorse being challenged.

Pre and Post Challenge Evaluation Parameters Temperature

Daily morning rectal temperatures were recorded for each of the 40vaccinated and control horses on Day of Challenge and for 14 days postchallenge by means of a calibrated, electronic thermometer (GSAElectronics) probe. The daily rectal temperatures were recorded indegrees Fahrenheit (° F.).

White Blood Cell Counts

Venous blood from each of the 40 vaccinated and control horses wascollected daily on the Day of Challenge and for 14 days post-challengedirectly into a vacutainer Disodium EDTA tube for WBC counts.

Nasal Exudate Evaluation

All nasal exudate observations were made prior to collection ofnasopharyngeal swabs. On the Day of Challenge and for 14 days postchallenge, the nasal passages and muzzle of each of the 40 vaccinatedand control horses were examined and graded using the grading andscoring description listed below.

The scoring grades of 0 through 6 were assigned on the basis of theseverity of the disease indicated by each of the followingclassification:

(EN) Essentially normal indicates the horse was clean and essentiallyfree of nasal exudate, score, 0;

(C-1) Slight clear serous discharge that may be frequently observed inboth diseased and normal horses, score 1;

(C-2) Moderate clear serous discharge is indicative of a definiteincrease in volume over that normally observed, score 2;

(C-3) Copious clear serous discharge that is generally observed only indiseased horses, score 3;

(VSM) Very slight mucopurulent discharge indicates that mucus wasdefinitely present in small amounts in either one or both nostrils,score 1.5;

(SM) Slightly mucopurulent is a discharge easily observed in one or bothnostrils, score 2;

(MM) Moderately mucopurulent indicates that mucoid discharges werepresent in large quantities in both nostrils, score 4; and

(HM) Heavy mucopurulent indicates that copious amounts of a mucoiddischarge filled both nostrils, score 6.

Nasopharyngeal Viral Isolation Methods

On each observation test day each nasal passage of each vaccinated andcontrol was sampled deeply by means of a sterile swabs. On collection,each of two swabs were immediately placed in a single tube containing 4mL of chilled transport medium (Dulbecco's Minimal Essential Medium(DMEM) supplemented with 2% FBS, 2× Pen/Strep, 2× Gentamicin, and 2×Amphotericin B).

For isolation of virus, the tubes were mixed, the swabs asepticallyremoved, and the medium centrifuged at 1500 rpm for 10 minutes to removeparticulates. Medium was filtered through a 0.2μ syringe filter prior toinoculation on tissue culture cells. One mL of the clarified transportmedium was used to inoculate a 2 cm² one day old monolayer of ED cellsgrown in a 24 well tissue culture plate from which the growth medium hadbeen aseptically removed. Following inoculation, the inoculum wasallowed to adsorb on the cell monolayer for one hour at 37° C. in ahumidified incubator containing a 5% CO₂ atmosphere. After theabsorption period, an additional 1 mL of re-feed medium (DMEM containing2-5% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 2 mM L-glutamine and 3× Gentamicin and 2×Amphotericin B) was added to each well. Following addition of re-feedmedia the plates were then incubated at 37° C. in a CO₂ incubator. Eachtest and control tissue culture well was examined microscopically for 7days for signs of cytopathic effect (CPE) typical of the EHV-1 A183challenge virus. Wells that were negative at the end of the 7 dayobservation period were subcultured onto fresh cells and observed for anadditional 7 days.

WBC Buffy Coat Virus Isolation

Venous blood from each of the 40 vaccinated and control horses wascollected on the Day of Challenge and daily for 14 days post-challengeby vacutainer into a Disodium EDTA tube. After permitting gravitysedimentation of the erythrocytes in the tube of EDTA anti-coagulatedblood, the plasma and white blood cells were pipetted off and placed ina sterile 5 mL snap-cap tube. The plasma and white blood cell mixturewas centrifuged at 1500 RPM for 10-15 minutes to pellet the white bloodcells. The pellet was washed twice with 3 mL of phosphate bufferedsaline (PBS) containing 2× Pen/Strep, 2× Gentamicin, and 2× AmphotericinB. Cells were then suspended in 4 mL of DMEM supplemented with 2% fetalbovine serum (FBS) and 2× Pen/Strep, 2× Gentamicin, and 2× AmphotericinB. One mL buffy coat suspension was used to inoculate a 2 cm² one dayold monolayer of ED cells grown in a 24 well tissue culture plate fromwhich the growth medium had been aseptically removed. Followinginoculation, the inoculum was allowed to adsorb on the cell monolayerfor one hour at 37° C. in a humidified incubator containing a 5% CO₂atmosphere. After the adsorption period, an additional 1 mL of re-feedmedium (DMEM containing 5-7% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 2 mM L-glutamineand 1× Gentamicin was added to each well. Following addition of re-feedmedia the plates were then incubated at 37° C. in a CO₂ incubator. Wellscould not be observed microscopically due to large volume of white bloodcells settled on the monolayer. Therefore, at the end of 7 days, allwells were subcultured onto fresh ED cells using 0.5 ml of the 1^(st)passage as inoculum. The subculture was observed for 7 days for CPEtypical of challenge virus infection.

Serum Neutralization Testing Procedure

A standard microtiter serum neutralization test was employed in thisstudy. All sera were tested in sterile flat bottom microtiter platesusing five wells per dilution and an 8 well dilution series for each ofthe 5 test wells. Each of the 5 test wells contained 25 μl of serumdilution mixed with 25 μl of the indicator virus and 150 μl of a freshlyplanted ED cell suspension containing approximately 5×10⁴ cells. Thetest indicator virus used was EHV-1 subtype 1 strain A183. In all teststhe indicator virus back titration titers ranged between 109 to 263TCID₅₀/25 μl. Serum neutralizing antibody titers are expressed asReed-Muench ID₅₀ titers.

For performance of the test, two-fold dilutions of each test serum wasmade in a sterile flat bottom microtiter plate using five replicatewells per test serum and an 8 well dilution series. Dilutions were madewith an adjustable volume single or multi-channel pipetting instrumentusing sterile microtiter tips. The volume of serum added each of 5 wellsof the first row was 50 μl. All other wells contained 25 μl of DMEM (noFBS). Following serial dilution down the plate, 25 μl was discarded fromthe last row. 25 μl of a pre-determined dilution of the indicator viruswas added to each test well. Plates were then mixed and incubated forone hour at 37° C. in 5% CO₂. On conclusion of the incubation period,150 μl of a suspension containing 5×10⁴ ED cells was added to each testand cell control well. The plates were incubated at 37° C. in a CO₂incubator for 3 days, at which time plates were microscopically examinedfor CPE typical of EHV-1. Alternatively, any conventional or commercialavailable assay can be used or those of skill in the art would be ableto follow the guidance herein.

Results and Conclusion

Nasal discharge scores, nasal shedding of EHV-1 and conjunctivitisscores were considered the primary outcome variables. All other outcomeswere considered secondary.

TABLE 12 Summary of the statistical analysis (P-values) VaccinationGroup by day Outcome variable group Day interaction Nasal dischargescore¹ 0.0001 <.0001 <0.0001 Virus shedding¹ 0.0028 <0.0001 0.0863Conjunctivitis score¹ 0.0020 <0.0001 0.0017 SN Titers <0.0001 <0.0001<0.0001 WBC 0.3064 <0.0001 <0.0001 ¹The GLIMMIX procedure would notconverge, thus an ANOVA approach was used to evaluate the effect ofvaccination over time after challenge. Results were interpreted throughthe bolded values.

Nasal Exudate Evaluation

The vaccination group by day interaction was statistically significantfor the nasal discharge scores (P<0.05). Statistically significant groupeffects were seen on Days 4, 5 and on Days 7-11 post-challenge (lowernasal scores in the vaccinated group, P<0.05,). When the daily scoreswere summed over the post-challenge period, horses in the vaccinatedgroup had lower total scores than those in the control group (P<0.05).The mitigated fraction was estimated to be 0.7250 (95% ASE CI: 0.4886,0.9614).

TABLE 13 Mitigated fraction - nasal discharge and conjunctivitis scores,nasal virus shedding (mean ranks) Mitigated fraction² Control VaccinateP-value¹ (95% ASE CI) Nasal discharge 27.75 13.25 <0.0001 0.7250(0.4886, 0.9614) Days shedding virus² 24.43 15.78 0.0068 0.4925 (0.1896,0.7954) Conjunctivitis 25.80 15.20 0.0038 0.5300 (0.2463, 0.8137)¹P-value from Wilcoxon's rank sum test ²Nasal discharge andconjunctivitis scores were summed across all time points then ranked forthe estimation of the mitigated fraction. The number of days of viralshedding was calculated then ranked for the estimation of the mitigatedfraction. Asymptotic standard errors (ASE) were used to estimate the 95%confidence intervals (CI).

TABLE 14 Mean nasal discharge score (N = 20 horses per group) Dayspost-challenge Control Vaccinated P-value¹ 0 0.00 0.00 1.0000 1 0.000.00 1.0000 2 0.15 0.00 0.6029 3 0.33 0.48 0.6029 4 1.08 0.23 0.0033 51.43 0.40 0.0004 6 1.05 0.55 0.0833 7 1.50 0.68 0.0044 8 1.68 0.630.0003 9 2.13 0.50 <.0001 10 1.58 0.80 0.0074 11 0.98 0.23 0.0095 120.90 0.35 0.0568 13 1.23 0.90 0.2599 14 0.93 0.43 0.0833 ¹The GLIMMIXprocedure would not converge, thus an ANOVA approach was used toevaluate the effect of vaccination over time on the nasal dischargescore.

Conjunctivitis

The vaccination group, by day interaction, was statistically significantfor the conjunctivitis scores (P<0.05). Statistically significant groupeffects were seen on Days 5 and 6, and on Days 9-14 post-challenge(lower scores in the vaccinated group, P<0.05). When the daily scoreswere summed over the post-challenge period, horses in the vaccinatedgroup had lower total scores than those in the control group (P<0.05).The mitigated fraction was estimated to be 0.5300 (95% ASE CI: 0.2463,0.8137).

TABLE 15 Mean conjunctivitis score (N = 20 horses per group) Dayspost-challenge Control Vaccinated P-value¹ 0 0.00 0.00 1.0000 1 0.000.00 1.0000 2 0.00 0.00 1.0000 3 0.05 0.00 0.7321 4 0.15 0.15 1.0000 50.70 0.25 0.0022 6 0.85 0.25 <.0001 7 0.75 0.65 0.4936 8 0.45 0.350.4936 9 0.50 0.15 0.0168 10 0.45 0.15 0.0403 11 0.50 0.05 0.0022 120.45 0.00 0.0022 13 0.45 0.05 0.0063 14 0.35 0.05 0.0403 ¹The GLIMMIXprocedure would not converge, thus an ANOVA approach was used toevaluate the effect of vaccination over time.

Virus Isolation from Nasopharyngeal Swabs

The main effect of vaccination group was statistically significant(fewer animals shedding in the vaccinated group, P<0.05). When thenumber of days shedding was evaluated, horses in the vaccinated grouphad fewer days of virus shedding than those in the control group(P<0.05, Table 2). The mitigated fraction was estimated to be 0.4925(95% ASE CI: 0.1896, 0.7954).

TABLE 16 Proportion virus shedding (nasal swab, N = 20 horses per group)Days post-challenge Control Vaccinated 0 0.00 0.00 1 0.00 0.00 2 0.050.05 3 0.05 0.10 4 0.20 0.05 5 0.25 0.15 6 0.45 0.25 7 0.45 0.35 8 0.500.10 9 0.45 0.15 10 0.25 0.00 11 0.35 0.10 12 0.30 0.10 13 0.15 0.00 140.05 0.00

White Blood Cell Counts

The vaccination group by day interaction was statistically significantfor WBC counts (P<0.05, Table 1). Statistically significant groupeffects were seen on Days 2 and 3 post-challenge. Horses in thevaccinated group had higher WBC counts than those in the control group,indicating the vaccine prevented the horses from suffering theleucopenia caused by infection with EHV 1 (P<0.05).

TABLE 17 Mean WBC counts (N = 20 horses per group) Days post-challengeControl Vaccinated P-value¹ 1 14.0413 14.4887 0.6081 2 10.7963 14.12870.0001 3 11.1263 14.0687 0.0008 4 11.5013 13.1037 0.0667 5 10.741311.1987 0.6001 6 9.1063 9.4187 0.7203 7 10.1563 9.9037 0.7721 8 10.781310.6037 0.8386 9 11.1813 12.0737 0.3065 10 11.9713 12.4187 0.6081 1112.6713 13.2137 0.5341 12 13.2913 13.5637 0.7549 13 14.7063 14.17370.5415 14 15.8463 14.4587 0.1121 ¹P-values from the ANOVA

Serological Studies

Titers were log transformed prior to the statistical analysis. Thevaccination group by day interaction was statistically significant forSN titers (P<0.05). Statistically significant group effects were seen onDays 35 (the day of challenge) and 7 and 14 days post-challenge (studydays 42 and 49). Horses in the vaccinated group had higher titers thanthose in the control group (P<0.05).

TABLE 18 Geometric mean - serum neutralization titers (N = 20 horses pergroup) Study day Control Vaccinated P-value¹  0 3.987 3.384 0.4005 213.190 2.624 0.3168 35 (day of challenge) 3.480 6.863 0.0006 42 3.51919.252 <0.0001 49 33.153 187.417 <0.0001 ¹P-values from the ANOVA. Serumneutralization titers were log (natural) transformed prior to thestatistical analysis.

Results and Discussion

Respiratory disease caused by equine herpesvirus type 1 is usually anepidemic disease of naïve weanling and yearling horses that occurs inthe first year of life, usually in the fall and winter months. Signs ofacute infection include fever up to 106° F., viremia and leucopeniaand/or neutropenia. Nasal discharge is usually evident during febrileperiods of this first exposure. Natural infection by EHV-1 does notresult in permanent immunity of the respiratory tract. Indeed, horsesmay be re-infected naturally every 3 to 6 months throughout life. Afterthe first experience with this virus, re-infection results in productionof virus, but usually without clinical signs of disease, resulting incarrier animals that act as natural reservoirs of the virus.

The equine herpesvirus-1 multi-component vaccine described in thisreport has been shown to be efficacious in reducing the respiratorymanifestations, clinical symptoms and virus shedding from nasal exudateof horses challenged with a virulent heterologous strain of EquineHerpesvirus type 1. Reduction in shedding of virus from the respiratoryroute is important epidemiologically due to this being the natural routeof exposure to naive animals as well as for re-infection of herd matesfrom those experiencing a natural infection. It was also a safe vaccinewith no adverse reactions, either systemic or at the site of vaccineadministration, observed following vaccine use in the study horses.

In this study, vaccination group by day interaction showed statisticalsignificance for the primary outcome variables nasal discharge scoresand conjunctivitis. Statistically significant group effects were seen inthe vaccinate group for nasal discharge on Days 4, 5 and on Days 7-11post-challenge. Group effects for conjunctivitis were also statisticallysignificant on Days 5 and 6 and 9-14 with lower scores in the vaccinategroup (P<0.05). This is significant epidemiologically because the EHV-1virus is delicate and does not survive in the environment readily. Closecontact is important for transmission of disease through nasalsecretions containing virulent EHV-1 virus (Campbell and Studdert,1983).

Importantly, another primary outcome variable in this study, virusshedding in nasal exudates, showed a main effect of vaccination asstatistically significant (P<0.05). Horses in the vaccinated group alsohad statistically fewer days of virus shedding than those in the controlgroup (P<0.05).

Serum neutralization titers were statistically significant aftervaccination and throughout the challenge period in vaccinates versuscontrol horses (P<0.05). Humoral immunity and mucosal antibodies may beimportant in determining whether an EHV-1 infection becomes a productiveor limited infection event (Kidd, Smith, Hannant, et. al, 1994).

Example 6

This example illustrates the efficacy and 6 month duration of immunityof an immunogenic composition of the present invention when challengedwith West Nile Virus.

Materials and Methods

The WNV viral antigen used in the vaccine evaluated in this study wasproduced on E vero cells as described in Example 1. A total of 15 horseswere randomly divided into groups, one being a control group of 5horses. The vaccinated group of 10 horses received 2 doses of vaccine at21-day intervals cells. On completion of satisfactory residual livevirus testing the inactivated viral fluids were then used to formulate avaccine which also contained inactivated Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis, TC-83 strain (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9411), EasternEquine Encephalomyelitis, NJO strain (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9412), andWestern Equine Encephalomyelitis, Fleming strain (ATCC Accession No.PTA-9410) viruses, inactivated influenza A/equine-2/Kentucky/95 (ATCCAccession No. PTA-9523), influenza A/equine-2/NewMarket/2/93 (ATCCAccession No. PTA-9524) and influenza A/equine-2/Ohio/03 (ATCC AccessionNo. PTA-9522) viruses, inactivated West Nile Virus (ATCC Accession No.9409) and tetanus toxoid. Vaccine was formulated to minimumspecifications for all antigens included in the product.

The final formulated vaccine contains the following ingredients per 1 mLdose:

EHV-1 10^(7.0-9.0) TCID₅₀/mL Influenza A2/Ohio/03 10^(6.7-9.5) TCID₅₀/mLInfluenza A2/KY/95 10^(6.7-9.5) TCID₅₀/mL Influenza A2/NewMarket/2/9310^(6.7-9.5) TCID₅₀/mL Tetanus Toxoid 5-10 CPU Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis 10^(6.7-9.2) TCID₅₀/mL Western EquineEncephalomyelitis 10^(6.7-9.2) L PFU/mL Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis 10^(6.7-9.2) TCID₅₀/mL West Nile Virus 10^(7.0-9.0)TCID₅₀/mL Adjuvant (preferably mineral oil) 100-200 μl Glycerol 100-200μl EDTA 240 mM solution 10-20 μl Diluent - DMEM containing q.s.Gentamicin (30 μg/mL of diluent volume) Formaldehyde (0.1-0.2% ofdiluent volume)

Fifteen horses were used in this study. Horses were randomly assigned toeither vaccinate or control groups and then vaccinated. Ten horsesserved as vaccinates and five horses were mock-vaccinated controlhorses.

The vaccine was administered intramuscularly in a 1 mL dose volume toeach of the horses in the vaccinate group. Each control received a 1 mLdose of adjuvanted DMEM containing excipients used in the 9-way vaccine(gentamycin and formaldehyde) but no antigens.

All groups were challenged approximately 6 months following vaccinationwith intrathecal inoculation of 1 ml PBS containing approximately 10⁵pfu of a heterologous strain of WNV (NY99, 4132, crow isolate). Thechallenge was conducted under ketamine-xylazine anesthesia.

Horses were monitored for a maximum of 14 days.

Results and Discussion

Viremia after challenge was considered the primary outcome variable inthis study. The horses that had been vaccinated were 90% protected fromviremia after challenge in this study. In comparison, all of the 5control horses demonstrated viremia for 3-5 days post-challenge.

In addition, serum neutralization titers of vaccinated horses weresignificantly higher than those of control horses after vaccination. Allthe vaccinated horses developed measurable serum neutralization titersfollowing vaccination, whereas none of the controls displayed any titerto WNV. This study demonstrated that 2 doses of the experimentalcombination vaccine reliably and effectively stimulated protectiveserological serum neutralization titers.

Since viremia is a prerequisite before virus can cross the blood-brainbarrier to cause WNV encephalitis, viremia is well justified as theprimary parameter for evaluation of protection in an experimental studyof this type.

The results demonstrated that an immunogenic reaction is induced in theanimals that were administered the vaccine, and that the vaccine iseffective at providing protection for at least 6 months followingvaccination. The effectiveness of the vaccine was evidenced in thisexample by reduction in WNV viremia and by stimulation of high serumneutralization titers to WNV. Because this vaccine is comprised ofunique constituents including a long lasting non-metabolizable adjuvant,is formulated in a low 1 mL dose volume to provide a high degree ofsafety as a highly immunogenic low passage whole inactivated virus WNVisolate of recent origin and high epidemiological prevalence (a NorthAmerican Dominant WNV strain), and a WNV isolated from the tissues of aninfected horse, it provides more comprehensive safety and long lastingeffectiveness of at least 6 months duration than other vaccinescurrently available. Additionally, it has the effect of providing a safevaccine when administered to animals, and in particular to horses.

Example 7

This example illustrates the efficacy of one embodiment of theimmunogenic composition of the present invention includingencephalomyelitis antigens with tetanus toxoid antigen.

Materials and Methods

Host animal and laboratory animal immunization/serology were evaluatedto demonstrate efficacy of encephalomyelitis antigens and the tetanustoxoid antigen fraction in anEncephalomyelitis-Rhinopneumonitis-Influenza-West Nile Virus Vaccine,including Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan Encephalomyelitis, KilledVirus, and Tetanus Toxoid. The efficacy and lack of interference onequine encephalitis virus vaccines and tetanus toxoid fractions can beunequivocally demonstrated by laboratory animal potency testing of thecombination vaccine. Demonstration of serological response followingvaccination of horses is also indicative of vaccine-toxoid efficacy.Hence, both lab animal potency and host animal serology were used inthis study to confirm the efficacy of the experimental vaccine. Thevaccine was also evaluated for safety in animals including horses.

Horses 4-5 months of age, from non-vaccinated mares, were vaccinatedwith an efficacy serial of WNV combination vaccine containinginactivated Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus, TC-83 strain(ATCC Accession No. PTA-9411) Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus,NJO strain (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9412) Western EquineEncephalomyelitis Virus, Fleming strain (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9410)West Nile Virus (WNV), Horse Origin 2005 (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9409)Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9525) (EHV-1),Influenza A/equine-2/Ohio/03 (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9522), InfluenzaA/equine-2/Kentucky/95 (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9523), InfluenzaA/equine-2/NewMarket/2/93 (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9524) and TetanusToxoid. Horses were vaccinated on Day 0 and Day 21 of the study. Bloodsamples were collected at Day 0, Day 21 and Day 35. Day 0 and Day 35serological results are reported herein.

In addition, the same WNV combination vaccine used to vaccinate horseswas tested for potency in guinea pigs. Data presented in this reportcollectively and definitively establish the efficacy of each antigentested (EEE, VEE, WEE, tetanus) in this study and also confirm thesafety of a WNV combination vaccine.

Bulk lots of EEE, WEE, and VEE viruses and tetanus toxoid were produced.Following growth, viral fluids were filtered, formalin inactivated, andconcentrated. The inactivated viral fluids were tested for residual livevirus after inactivation.

Inactivated viral and toxoid fluids described above were used toformulate a vaccine that also contained inactivated Equine HerpesvirusType 1, inactivated influenza A/equine-2/Kentucky/95, influenzaA/equine-2/NewMarket/2/93 and influenza A/equine-2/Ohio/03 viruses.

The vaccine was formulated to specifications for all antigens includedin the product.

The final formulated vaccine contained the following ingredients per 1mL dose:

EHV-1 10^(7.0-9.0) TCID₅₀/mL Influenza A2/Ohio/03 10^(6.7-9.5) TCID₅₀/mLInfluenza A2/KY/95 10^(6.7-9.5) TCID₅₀/mL Influenza A2/NewMarket/2/9310^(6.7-9.5) TCID₅₀/mL Tetanus Toxoid 5-10 CPU Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis 10^(6.7-9.2) TCID₅₀/mL Western EquineEncephalomyelitis 10^(6.7-9.2) PFU/mL Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis 10^(6.7-9.2) TCID₅₀/mL West Nile Virus 10^(7.0-9.0)TCID₅₀/mL Adjuvant (preferably mineral oil) 100-200 μl Glycerol 100-200μl EDTA 240 mM solution 10-20 μl Diluent - DMEM containing q.s.Gentamicin (30 μg/mL of diluent volume) Formaldehyde (0.1-0.2% ofdiluent volume)

Forty horses, four to 5 months of age, were used in this study. Horsesremained with their dams on pasture throughout the vaccination periodand were weaned from their dams when the 2-week post-booster sera werecollected. Horses were assigned to either one of the two treatmentgroups randomly as they were vaccinated intramuscularly (IM) with a 1.0ml dose. The primary immunization was followed three weeks later by a1.0 ml IM booster vaccination. Twenty horses received vaccine. Twentyhorses received placebo.

Guinea pigs were also vaccinated with the same combination WNV vaccine.

Horses were vaccinated and serum samples collected using the followingschedule:

TABLE 19 Vaccination and Serum Sampling Schedule Day of Test Activity 0Collect pre-vaccination blood and give primary vaccination 21 Collectblood and give booster vaccination 35 Collect blood for final serology

Guinea pigs were vaccinated and serum collected using the scheduleoutlined by 9 CFR, 113.207(b) and 113.114(c.).

Sera from horses in this study were tested following general guidelines.The assay was modified to determine titers by testing at 1:2 and 1:10dilutions for Day 0 samples and at 1:10 and 1:40 dilutions for the2-week post-booster serum samples. Sera were tested for EEE, WEE and VEEantibody and were tested for Tetanus toxoid antibody.

Results and Discussion

Horse Serological Evaluation for EEE, WEE and VEE

At Day 0 of the Study, not all foals were sero-negative toencephalomyelitis viruses. Five of the vaccinated foals had significant(>1:10) residual maternal antibody to EEE virus. In addition, two of thevaccinated foals had residual maternal antibody (>1:10) to WEE virus.Despite existing and potentially interfering passively acquired,maternal antibody at the time of administration of the first dose of theWNV combination vaccine, titers for all three fractions increasedsubstantially (>4 fold in 80% of horses tested for EEE, >4 fold in 90%of horses tested for WEE and >4 fold in 100% of horses tested for VEE)following vaccination, yet remained negative or low for thenon-vaccinated foals. Individual foal data are presented below.

EEE, WEE and VEE Equine Serological Titers

TABLE 20 Plaque Reduction Neutralization Titration Horse Test Day 0 Day35 Day 0 Day 35 Day 0 Day 35 ID Article EEE EEE WEE WEE VEE VEE 1V >10 >40 2 >40 <2 >40 2 V <2 >40 <2 10 <2 40 3 V <2 >40 <2 <10 <2 >40 4V <2 >40 <2 10 <2 >40 5 V >10 >40 >10 >40 <2 >40 6 V >10 >40 <2 >40 NS10 7 V <2 >40 <2 >40 <2 >40 8 V >10 >40 2 >40 <2 >40 9 V <2 >40 <2 >40<2 >40 10 V <2 >40 <2 >40 <2 10 11 V <2 >40 <2 >40 <2 >40 12 V <2 >40<2 >40 <2 40 13 V <2 >40 <2 >40 <2 >40 14 V <2 >40 <2 10 <2 >40 15V >10 >40 >10 >40 2 >40 16 V 2 >40 <2 10 <2 >40 17 V <2 >40 <2 10 <2 >4018 V <2 >40 <2 >40 <2 40 19 V <2 10 <2 >40 <2 >40 20 V 2 >40 <2 >40 <210 21 C <2 <10 <2 <10 <2 10 22 C <2 <10 <2 <10 <2 <10 23 C <2 <10 <2 10<2 <10 24 C <2 <10 NS <10 <2 <10 25 C <2 <10 <2 <10 <2 <10 26 C <2 <10<2 10 <2 <10 27 C <2 <10 <2 <10 <2 <10 28 C 2 <10 <2 <10 <2 10 29 C 2<10 <2 10 <2 <10 30 C <2 <10 <2 <10 <2 <10 31 C <2 <10 <2 <10 <2 <10 32C <2 <10 <2 <10 <2 <10 33 C >10 >40 <2 10 <2 <10 34 C <2 <10 <2 <10 <2<10 35 C >10 10 2 <10 <2 10 36 C 2 <10 <2 <10 <2 <10 37 C <2 <10 <2 <10<2 <10 38 C <2 <10 2 <10 <2 <10 39 C <2 10 <2 <10 <2 <10 40 C <2 >40 <2<10 <2 <10

Guinea Pig Serological Evaluation for EEE, WEE, VEE and Tetanus Toxoid

Nine of ten guinea pigs vaccinated with the combination vaccineseroconverted satisfactorily at (≧1:40) to EEE virus. Ten of ten guineapigs had satisfactory titers for VEE virus (≧1:4) and ten of ten guineapigs seroconverted satisfactorily to WEE virus (≧1:40). Also a serumpool from 10 vaccinated guinea pigs was tested for tetanus antibody andwas shown to be satisfactory with a value of 4.3 anti-toxin units/ml(AU/ml).

Guinea pig potency tests were completed and found to be satisfactory forall four antigens including tetanus toxoid, EEE, VEE, and WEE.

The vaccine was also administered to horses (20 vaccinates and 20controls) via primary immunization followed by booster immunization 3weeks later. Fourteen days post-booster vaccination, horses were bledand serum collected for all serological testing. Equine response toencephalomyelitis antigens was tested utilizing 2 dilutions (1:2 and1:10 for Day 0 samples and 1:10 and 1:40 for Day 35 samples) in 24-wellplates to determine antibody titers.

The satisfactory guinea pig potency testing conclusively establishes theefficacy of 4 antigens (VEE, EEE, WEE and tetanus toxoid) in the WestNile Virus combination vaccine as a 9-antigen-containing vaccine-toxoid.Furthermore, satisfactory potency results are substantiated andconfirmed by host animal horse serology data in which vaccinated horsesdemonstrated a substantial rise in titer to each encephalitis virusfraction following vaccination. Additionally, the absence of observationof any adverse reactions in any of the vaccinated horses or guinea pigsconfirms the safety of the WNV combination vaccine in animals.

Example 8

This example illustrates that a vaccine or immunogenic composition inaccordance with the present invention has a duration of immunity of atleast one year.

Materials and Methods

Host animal vaccination and challenge at least 1 year post-boostervaccination was used to confirm duration of immunity for the West NileVirus antigen fraction in anEncephalomyelitis-Rhinopneumonitis-Influenza-West Nile Virus Vaccine,Eastern, Western & Venezuelan, Killed Virus, Tetanus Toxoid preparedfrom a North American Dominant isolate of WNV designated North AmericanEquine E159 (NAEE159).

TABLE 21 The final formulated vaccine contains the following ingredientsper 1 mL dose: Ingredients 1 mL Dose Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis10^(7.5-9.2) TCID₅₀/mL Western Equine Encephalomyelitis 10^(8.2-9.2)PFU/mL Venezuelan Equine 10^(7.7-9.2) TCID₅₀/mL Encephalomyelitis WestNile Virus (North American 10^(8.0-9.2) TCID₅₀/mL Dominant prepared fromNAEE159) EHV-1 10^(7.0-9.0) TCID₅₀/mL Equine Influenza A2/Ohio/200310^(7.3-9.5) TCID₅₀/mL Equine Influenza A2/Kentucky/95 10^(7.3-9.5)TCID₅₀/mL Equine Influenza A2/NewMarket/ 10^(7.3-9.5) TCID₅₀/mL 2/93Tetanus Toxoid 5-10 CPU Non-metabolizable Oil Adjuvant 100-200 μLDiluent - DMEM containing q.s. Gentamicin 30 μg/mL of diluent volumeFormaldehyde 0.1% of diluent volume

Thirty horses (20 vaccinates and 10 controls), 4-5 months of age wereused in this study. Horses were randomly assigned to one of twotreatments and vaccinated intramuscularly (IM) with a 1.0 mL dose of theassigned vaccine or control product. The primary immunization wasfollowed three weeks later by a 1.0 mL IM booster vaccination.

Horses were vaccinated once and then again about 30 days later. Horseswere randomly assigned to either vaccine or control groups. Twentyhorses received the vaccine group receiving VEWT/WNV/EHV-1/Influenzavaccine. Ten horses received adjuvanted DMEM containing excipients usedin the vaccine (Gentamicin and formaldehyde) but no antigens. Thenon-metabolizable oil adjuvant used for all administrations waspreferably mineral oil.

Challenge inoculation of the virulent heterologous WNV NY99 strain viruswas performed 380 days post-booster vaccination. The second cohort ofhorses were challenged 408 days post-booster inoculation in a similarmanner.

Serum samples for serological evaluation were collected from thevaccinated and control horses prior to initial vaccination, at 21 dayspost first dose vaccination (day of booster vaccination), monthlypost-booster, on the day of challenge, and at 7 and 14 dayspost-challenge. Body temperature and serum samples were obtained fromeach horse on the day of challenge, twice daily on Days 1 through 6post-challenge, and daily on Days 7-10 and Day 14 post-challenge.Clinical data was also recorded during those same time periods for the15-day observation period.

The heterologous challenge virus, designated WNV NY99, was originallyisolated from the brain of an infected crow (CDC, Ft. Collins, Colo.).On the day of challenge, the stock virus was thawed on ice and virus wasdiluted to the desired concentration in phosphate-buffered salineimmediately prior to inoculation of horses.

Rectal temperatures were recorded for each of the vaccinated and controlhorses on the day before challenge, day of challenge and twice daily ondays 1-14, then daily on Days 14-21 post challenge by means of acalibrated, electronic thermometer (GSA Electronics) probe. The dailyrectal temperatures were recorded in degrees Fahrenheit (° F.).

Venous blood from each of the vaccinated and control horses wascollected on the Day of Challenge, twice daily on Days 1-6, and daily onDays 7-10 and Day 14 days post-challenge by Vacutainer into an SST tube.After centrifugation, serum was aliquoted and frozen immediately.

Vero Cells were grown in 6-well plates to confluency. To perform theplaque assay, serial 10-fold dilutions of serum were prepared in 96-wellplates in BA-1 medium (MEM salts containing 1% BSA, 250 mg/L sodiumbicarbonate, 500 gentamicin and 2.5 μg amphotericin B/mL in 50 mM Tris,pH 7.6). Serum dilutions (0.1 mL) were inoculated into each well of the6-well plate and incubated for 45-60 minutes with rocking every 15minutes. After the incubation period, 2 mL of overlay (2× mediumcontaining MEM without phenol red prepared at twice the normalconcentration and supplemented with 4% FBS, 200 IU penicillin G/mL and100 μg streptomycin/mL—warmed to 45° C.) was added to each well. Plateswere incubated at 37° C.

Two days after inoculation, 2 mL of a second overlay containing 2×agarose prepared by mixing equal volumes of 2× medium and 2× agarose wasadded to each well. Plates were examined and plaque numbers recorded ineach well on days 3, 4 and 5 following inoculation. The virus titer permL of original material is calculated as the number of plaques in a well(or average of multiple wells inoculated with the same dilution) timesthe dilution for the well being counted multiplied by 10.

A standard microtiter serum neutralization test was employed in thisstudy. All sera were tested in sterile flat bottom 96 well microtiterplates using five wells per dilution and an 8 well dilution series foreach of the 5 test wells. Each of the 5 test wells contained 25 μL ofserum dilution mixed with 25 μL of the indicator virus and 150 μL of afreshly planted Vero cell suspension containing approximately 4×10⁴cells. The test indicator virus used was WNV NY99. Serum neutralizingantibody titers are expressed as Reed-Muench ID₅₀ titers.

For performance of the test, two-fold dilutions of each test serum weremade in a sterile flat bottom microtiter plate using five replicatewells per test serum and an 8 well dilution series. Dilutions were madewith an adjustable volume single or multi-channel pipetting instrumentusing sterile microtiter tips. The volume of serum added to each of 5wells of the first row was 50 μL. All other wells contained 25 μL ofDMEM (no FBS). Following serial dilution down the plate, 25 μL wasdiscarded from the last row. 25 μL of a pre-determined dilution of theindicator virus was added to each test well. Plates were then mixed andincubated for one hour at 37° C. in 5% CO₂. On conclusion of theincubation period, 150 μL of a suspension containing 4×104 Vero cellswere added to each test and cell control well. The plates were incubatedat 37° C. in a CO₂ incubator for 5-7 days, at which time plates weremicroscopically examined for CPE typical of WNV.

Histopathology was evaluated by a Board Certified VeterinaryPathologist. The scoring system used to describe defects in the pons ormedulla was as follows:

Score:

0=no significant lesions in section0.5=rare, small, multifocal glial nodules scattered throughout theparenchyma1=mild, nonsuppurative encephalitis. This is characterized by mildmultifocal perivascular cuffs with lymphocytes and plasma cells and arare neutrophil and scattered multifocal glial nodules composed of glialcells with a few mononuclear inflammatory cells. Occasionally withinthis grade, there may be minimal perivascular cuffing and more moderatescattered glial nodules.2=moderate nonsuppurative encephalitis characterized by moderatelymphoplasmacytic perivascular cuffs around many vessels and multifocalaccumulations of glial nodules scattered throughout the parenchyma3=severe nonsuppurative encephalitis characterized by severe and thicklymphoplasmacytic perivascular cuffing with multiple scattered glialnodules throughout the parenchyma

Results and Discussion

There were no adverse reactions to vaccine administration at eitherdosing time point. All 4 to 5 month old foals receiving the experimentalvaccine were free of either systemic or injection site adverse reactionsin the study. This confirms the excellent safety of the vaccine of thepresent invention against WNV containing North American Dominant WNVantigen prepared from isolate NAEE159.

Horse Challenge with Heterologous West Nile Virus Viremia

Each of the 10 control horses (100%) were viremic for at least 1 daypost-challenge, while only 2 of 20 horses (10%) in the WNV vaccine groupwere viremic.

Clinical Signs

Seven of the 10 horses (70%) in the control group developed signs ofencephalomyelitis consistent with West Nile Virus infection. Each ofthese animals was viremic for at least one day during the challengeperiod. In the WNV vaccine group, 1 of the 20 horses (5%) developedsigns consistent with West Nile Virus infection. Notably clinical signsprogressed to death or euthanasia in 70% of the controls and only 5% ofthe vaccinates. All control mortalities were viremic, confirming fatalencephalitis due to WNV, whereas only one of two vaccinated animals thatdied was viremic during the challenge period.

Serum Neutralization Titers

All vaccinated horses responded favorably to the WNV vaccine bydeveloping protective levels of serum neutralizing (SN) antibodyfollowing vaccination. Over one year following vaccination, 17 of 20(85%) of vaccinated horses maintained protective SN titers. By contrast,none of the control horses developed rising SN titers prior to virulentWNV challenge. Also, all vaccinated horses displayed an anamnestic risein SN titers following virulent WNV challenge

Histopathology

Severity scores were provided for both the medulla and pons. Also withregard to this efficacy parameter, WNV vaccine containing North AmericanDominant WNV antigen prepared from isolate NAEE159 proved highlyeffective. Among the control horses, 50% displayed severe lesions of WNVencephalitis whereas only 10% of vaccinates were similarly affected.

Discussion and Conclusions

The WNV vaccine was prepared from a viral isolate (North American EquineE159) obtained from a horse in 2005 during the North American pandemicwhen a specific dominant WNV genotype emerged. This genotype ischaracterized by a specific valine to alanine amino acid change at the159^(th) amino acid in the envelope (E) protein of the virus (whencompared to the publicly available sequence for the WNV-NY99 isolatehaving the ATCC Accession No. AF196835), which has made all suchisolates more robust and prolific, thereby displacing other WNVisolates, and making this genotype dominant among disease-causing WNVisolates in North America. Because it was prepared from the dominantgenotype, the vaccine used in this study is indicative of the uniquesafety and efficacy achievable with vaccine prepared from all such NorthAmerican Dominant isolates with this E protein profile and resultingprolificacy. Notably, all previously tested WNV vaccines have beenprepared from a less prolific isolate of differing genotype and Eprotein amino acid sequence, namely WNV NY99. Based on this differencein nucleic acid sequence, E protein amino acid sequence, viralprolificacy, and unique ability to cause a pandemic, the North AmericanDominant isolates are displacing or have displaced NY99 from theenvironment. The unique genotype and phenotype (prolificacy), and, mostimportantly, the overwhelming environmental presence of North AmericanDominant WNV isolates and the absence of WNV NY99 is compelling evidencefor the superiority of the North American Dominant West Nile Virusvaccine. Such superiority is confirmed by the safety and efficacy of thevaccine as demonstrated in this challenge study using vaccine preparedfrom North American Dominant isolate North American Equine E159(NAEE159) (ATCC Accession No PTA-9409).

In this study, 4 to 5 month old horses were safely and effectivelyvaccinated with a multi-component VEWT/WNV/EHV-1/Equine Influenzavaccine batched at an appropriate antigen amount with the WNV componentbeing North American Dominant WNV antigen prepared from isolateNAEE159c(ATCC Accession No. PTA-9409).

Study horses were intrathecally challenged at least 380 dayspost-booster vaccination with 10⁵ PFU of a virulent heterologous WestNile Virus strain. Horses were evaluated for 14 days post-challenge forclinical signs (including temperature and mortality), viremia, serumneutralization titers, and histopathology scores from sections of thepons and medulla taken after euthanasia and necropsy.

Viremia after challenge and serum neutralization titers were key outcomevariables in this study that were highly indicative of vaccine efficacy.Horses that had been vaccinated more than one year earlier withVEWT/WNV/EHV-1/Influenza Lot 916 were 90% protected from viremia afterchallenge in this study. In comparison, 100% of control horsesdemonstrated viremia post-challenge. Additionally, serum neutralizationtiters of vaccinated horses were significantly higher than those ofcontrol horses at 14 days post-challenge, and displayed an anamnesticresponse typical of an effective vaccine following heterologous,virulent WNV challenge.

In addition the vaccine containing North American Dominant WNV antigenprepared from isolate NAEE159 reduced clinical signs and mortalityresulting from encephalomyelitis following heterologous challenge withvirulent WNV. Vaccine efficacy at least one year following vaccinationwas also confirmed by reduction in lesions typical of WNV infection.

This study demonstrated for the first time that 2 doses of theexperimental combination vaccine prepared at appropriate doses ofantigen including North American Dominant WNV antigen prepared fromisolate NAEE159 administered to foals 4 to 5 months of age safely,reliably and effectively stimulated protective serological serumneutralization titers that resulted in duration of immunity of at leastone year with protection from viremia, clinical signs, mortality, andencephalitic lesions after virulent heterologous challenge with WestNile Virus.

Example 9

In this study, a combination vaccine was prepared using a North AmericanDominant isolate of WNV, North American Equine E159(NAEE159) (ATCCAccession No. PTA-9409). The 14-day post second-vaccination sera samplesfrom the guinea pigs vaccinated with thisEncephalomyelitis-Rhinopneumonitis-Influenza-West Nile Virus Vaccine,Eastern, Western & Venezuelan, Killed Virus, Tetanus Toxoid werecollected and tested for West Nile Virus plaque reduction neutralization(PRN). The sera from the vaccinated guinea pigs were tested forneutralizing antibody to both a North American Dominant isolate of WNVand to WNV isolate NY99. Notably, the vaccine displayed superioractivity in stimulating neutralizing antibodies to North AmericanDominant WNV, as opposed to NY99 WNV. These data support the conclusionof the superior efficacy of WNV vaccines prepared from North AmericanDominant WNV isolates as contrasted with earlier less effective vaccinesprepared from or based on the NY99 WNV isolate.

Furthermore, a vaccine prepared from an additional North AmericanDominant isolate of WNV, North American Donkey E159 (NADE159) willsimilarly demonstrate, as described above, the superior efficacy of suchvaccines over the former NY99 based vaccines. Hence, data from multipleNorth American Dominant isolates cultivated from different host species,originating from unique North American locations, and obtained atdifferent times in North America will confirm the unexpected butsuperior efficacy of North American Dominant isolates of WNV for vaccinepreparation.

The data from the plaque reduction neutralization assay also establishedthat a vaccine prepared from a North American Dominant isolate of WNVthat stimulates a titer of 1:12 or higher in vaccinated guinea pigs thatprovides 50% viral plaque reduction in at least 90% of vaccinated guineapigs, correlates to vaccine protection against WNV challenge in thehorse and provides for a duration of immunity of at least one year. WestNile Virus vaccination/challenge data in the horse at an antigeninclusion level of 10^(7.6-9.0) TCID₅₀ or higher per dose correlatedwith these guinea pig PRN titer results and confirmed the WNV immunizingdose that provides 1 year or longer duration of immunity in the horse.The corresponding dose in guinea pigs also stimulates serum neutralizingantibodies to a titer of at least 1:12 against North American DominantWNV in guinea pigs.

Data presented in this report collectively demonstrate the unexpectedefficacy of vaccines prepared from North American Dominant isolates ofWNV, define the correlation between vaccine efficacy in the horse andguinea pig serum levels of neutralizing antibody, confirm that a 1:12titer or higher in guinea pigs identifies an effective equine vaccineproviding at least one year duration of immunity, and quite notably,demonstrate the superior efficacy of vaccines prepared from NorthAmerican Dominant WNV as contrasted with NY99 WNV.

Materials and Methods

In order to demonstrate efficacy of the West Nile Virus antigen,prepared using a North American Dominant isolate of WNV, North AmericanEquine E159(NAEE159) (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9409), in anEncephalomyelitis-Rhinopneumonitis-Influenza-West Nile Virus Vaccine,Eastern, Western & Venezuelan, Killed Virus, Tetanus Toxoid and toestablish an effective dose measurable in horses or guinea pigs, hostanimal vaccination/challenge studies were performed in conjunction withguinea pig vaccination/serology studies. In this study, 14-day postsecond-vaccination sera samples from guinea pigs vaccinated withEncephalomyelitis-Rhinopneumonitis-Influenza-West Nile Virus Vaccine,Eastern, Western & Venezuelan, Killed Virus, Tetanus Toxoid werecollected and tested. Additionally, a plaque reduction neutralizationassay was developed to measure the titer correlated to protectionagainst challenge in the host animal. This titer was determined to be1:12 or higher in the guinea pig.

Vaccine Formulations Experimental Serials Protective Dose Vaccine

Experimental Serials were formulated to confirm protective antigenspecifications for all antigens in the vaccine.

TABLE 22 The final formulated vaccines contained the followingingredients per 1 mL dose: Ingredients 1 mL Dose Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis 10^(7.5-9.2) TCID_(50/mL) Western EquineEncephalomyelitis 10^(8.2-9.2) PFU/mL Venezuelan Equine 10^(7.7-9.2)TCID₅₀/mL Encephalomyelitis West Nile Virus (North American 10^(7.3-9.2)TCID₅₀/mL Dominant prepared from NAEE159) EHV-1 10^(7.0-9.0) TCID₅₀/mLEquine Influenza A2/Ohio/2003 10^(7.3-9.5) TCID₅₀/mL Equine InfluenzaA2/Kentucky/95 10^(7.3-9.5) TCID₅₀/mL Equine Influenza A2/NewMarket/10^(7.3-9.5) TCID₅₀/mL 2/93 Tetanus Toxoid 5-10 CPU Non-metabolizableOil Adjuvant 100-200 μL Diluent - DMEM containing q.s. Gentamicin 30μg/mL of diluent volume Formaldehyde 0.1% of diluent volume

Experimental serial 916 was formulated for host animal vaccinationstudies. Experimental serial 916 is a multi-component vaccine containingVEWT-WNV-EHV-1 and 3 strains of equine influenza type A2 virus.Experimental serial 916 is batched at 10^(7.6-9.2) TCID₅₀/mL of WestNile Virus antigen North American Equine E159(NAEE159). It is a 1 mLdose vaccine in the horse.

This vaccine was also tested in guinea pigs at the time of host animalvaccinations to confirm the WNV efficacy and laboratory animal potency.Four replicate guinea pig sera dilution experiments were performed forexperimental serial 916 to validate a guinea pig assay criterion forthis one-year duration of immunity (DOI) vaccine.

Experimental Serial 507 Comparative Efficacy Serial

Data from Experimental Serial 507 is included in this report todemonstrate that serials formulated with a North American Dominantisolate of WNV antigen show superior efficacy, measured as guinea pigtiters, of the relevant North American Dominant isolates of WNV ascompared to the earlier NY99 isolate.

Guinea Pig Serological Evaluation

Sera were tested for WNV antibody as follows:

-   1) West Nile Virus Indicator Strain: North American Equine    E159(NAEE159) (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9409) & North American Donkey    E159 (NADE159)-   2) Growth medium for Vero Cells is DMEM+5% FBS, 2 mM L-glutamine and    30 μg/mL gentamycin-   3) Diluent for Test Serum is DMEM plus 30 μg/mL gentamycin-   4) Diluent for indicator virus working solution is DMEM+10% normal    guinea pig serum (specific to WNV assay)-   5) Guinea pig test sera is diluted 1:12-   7) Use 4 mL overlay instead of 3 mL (specific to WNV assay)-   8) Titers are calculated using 50% plaque reduction-   9) Nine of ten vaccinated guinea pigs must have an antibody titer of    ≧1:12 to demonstrate efficacy, and negative guinea pigs must be <1:4    (same criteria as VEE assay in SAM).

Results and Discussion Serological Evaluation for West Nile Virus

TABLE 23 Number of Plaques/Sera Dilution Experimental Serial 916Replicate I West Nile Guinea Pig Plaque Reduction Neutralization ResultsUsing North American Equine E159 (NAEE159) as Indicator Virus The studywas initiated and the guinea pigs were bled 25 days later. 916 (I) 2 3 46 8 12 16 32 64 GP1 0 2 2 4 5.5 2.5 17 14 11 GP2 6.5 9.5 11 14 9 11.5 1320 22.5 GP3 7 5 6 9.5 10 9.5 11 10 16.5 GP4 7 5 4 4 1 6 15.5 9.5 12.5GP5 6 4.5 9 7 17.5 13.5 12 16 17 GP6 1 1 2.5 7.5 3 8 19.5 19.5 20.5 GP79.5 8 8 15.5 17.5 21.5 36 17.5 20.5 GP8 5 3.5 7.5 7.5 14.5 11 26.5 26.527.5 GP9 0 2 7 6 7 12 9 10.5 11.5 GP10 4.5 4.5 5.5 11 22 8.5 23 29 30.5# 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 Passed Neg. 68.564.5 72.5 93.5 68 82 89.5 78.5 71 Control 1 Neg. 72 61 87 69.5 70.5 85.577.5 69.5 88 Control 2

-   -   Virus Control Values: 99. 70, 68, 88, 77, 64    -   Virus Control Average Plaques: 79    -   Virus Control 50% Reduction: 39.5

TABLE 24 Experimental Serial 916 Replicate II West Nile Guinea PigPlaque Reduction Neutralization Results Using North American Equine E159(NAEE159) as Indicator Virus Guinea Pigs were bled 35 days after theinitiation of the study Number of Plaques/Sera Dilution 916 (II) 2 3 4 68 12 16 32 64 GP1 1 3 6 6 14.5 6.5 13.5 18 17.5 GP2 1.5 3.5 6.5 6.5 8.59.5 10.5 12.5 19 GP3 12 5.5 22 21 41.5 34 41 41 43.5 GP4 4 8.5 17.5 16.521 36.5 28 41.5 42.5 GP5 3.5 4.5 9.5 15 26.5 25.5 13.5 23 40 GP6 1 3 713.5 17.5 14 24.5 26 23 GP7 8 5.5 14.5 11.5 21.5 15.5 34 26.5 28 GP8 11.5 2.5 3.5 4 11 9 20 17.5 GP9 13.5 18 25.5 29.5 29.5 35.5 28 37.5 43GP10 9 8 10.5 21.5 21 20.5 27 31.5 27.5 # 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 9/1010/10 9/10 8/10 6/10 Passed Neg. 69.5 67 71.5 69.5 72.5 73 83 68 78Control 1 Neg. 68 70.5 69 72.5 82.5 66 75 76 74 Control 2

-   -   Virus Control Values: 99. 70, 68, 88, 77, 64    -   Virus Control Average Plaques: 79    -   Virus Control 50% Reduction: 39.5

TABLE 25 Experimental Serial 916 Replicate III West Nile Guinea PigPlaque Reduction Neutralization Results Using North American Equine E159(NAEE159) as Indicator Virus Guinea Pigs were bled 35 days afterinitiation Number of Plaques/Sera Dilution 916 (III) 2 3 4 6 8 12 16 3264 GP1 0.5 1.5 0 0 0 1 4 6 3.5 GP2 0 0 1 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 GP3 7.5 9 9 16 1713.5 12 18.5 23 GP4 2.5 0 0 3 2 2 3.5 1 2.5 GP5 13.5 15.5 18 18 19.5 2416.5 21.5 33.5 GP6 6.5 15.5 31.5 10 29.5 26.5 28.5 31.5 32 GP7 14.5 1217.5 20.5 19.5 29.5 21.5 16 22.5 GP8 21 24.5 36 28 34.5 30.5 27.5 29 26GP9 0.5 0.5 3 4 6.5 5 10 9.5 18 GP10 2.5 7.5 11 8 12.5 9 20 10.5 17 #10/10 10/10 8/10 10/10 9/10 10/10 10/10 9/10 8/10 Passed Neg. 73 61.579.5 53.5 58.5 78 57 70 63 Control 1 Neg. 55 54.5 64 52.5 58 68.5 6667.5 79 Control 2

-   -   Virus Control Values: 51, 58, 61, 66, 78    -   Virus Control Average Plaques: 62    -   Virus Control 50% Reduction: 31

TABLE 26 Experimental Serial 916 Replicate IV West Nile Guinea PigPlaque Reduction Neutralization Results Using North American Equine E159(NAEE159) as Indicator Virus Guinea Pigs were bled 30 days after theinitiation of the study Number of Plaques/Sera Dilution 916 (IV) 2 3 4 68 12 16 32 64 GP1 11.5 7 5.5 20.5 12 17.5 22.5 20 25 GP2 31 21.5 20.536.5 32 30 27 15 28.5 GP3 16 20.5 18 23.5 21.5 16 35.5 16.5 15 GP4 1 26.5 7 11 15 19 14 18.5 GP5 4 1 9.5 12 20 17 24.5 19.5 23.5 GP6 0 0 0 1.52.5 2.5 0.5 3 3 GP7 5.5 6.5 5.5 10 7 13 5.5 9.5 13 GP8 1 4.5 0.5 3 7.54.5 13.5 17.5 11.5 # 8/8 8/8 8/8 7/8 8/8 8/8 7/8 8/8 8/8 Passed Neg. 4839 46.5 39 48 54 39.5 54 67.5 Control 1 Neg. 40.5 53 44 44.5 54 48.559.5 61.5 45.5 Control 2

-   -   Virus Control Values: 93, 53, 56, 92, 67, 44    -   Virus Control Average Plaques: 67.5    -   Virus Control 50% Reduction: 33.8        EXPERIMENTAL SERIAL 507 (Demonstrating Superior Efficacy of        North American Equine E159(NAEE159) Vaccines, and that other        North American Dominant Vaccines, such as North American Donkey        E159(NADE159 will provide superior efficacy to NY99 vaccines)

Guinea Pig Serological Evaluation for West Nile Virus

TABLE 27 Experimental Serial 507 West Nile Guinea Pig Plaque ReductionNeutralization Results using WNV NY1999 Isolate as Indicator VirusNumber of Plaques/Sera Dilution Guinea Pig Number 4 8 16 32 64 GP1 ≧10≧15 ≧15 ≧14.5 ≧10.5 GP2 4.5 5 7.5 9.5 13 GP3 1 3.5 3.5 6 6.5 GP4 8 11.5≧13.5 ≧14.5 ≧14.5 GP5 6 7.5 7.5 8.5 9 GP6 8.5 9.5 9.5 12 14 GP7 7 8.5 9≧10.5 ≧14.5 GP8 5 10.5 10.5 14 14 GP9 5.5 7 7.5 10 10 GP10 5.5 6.5 8.5≧12.5 14 # Passed 9/10 6/10 5/10 2/10 1/10 Neg. Control 1 ≧13.5 ≧13.5≧13 ≧13 ≧14.5 Neg. Control 2 ≧15.5 ≧14.5 ≧16 ≧17 ≧16.5

-   -   Virus Control Values: ≧24, ≧15, ≧14, ≧16, ≧18, ≧20    -   Virus Control Average Plaques: ≧17.8    -   Virus Control 50% Reduction: ≧8.9

TABLE 28 Experimental Serial 507 West Nile Guinea Pig Plaque ReductionNeutralization Results Using North American Equine E159 (NAEE159) asIndicator Virus Number of Plaques/Sera Dilution Guinea Pig Number 2 4 816 32 64 GP1 17 14 18.5 14.5 19.5 26 GP2 2.5 3.5 2 6 17 15 GP3 5.5 104.5 9 5 11.5 GP4 11.5 10 15 15.5 19 19.5 GP5 13 23 23.5 19.5 32.5 13 GP65.5 8.5 12 11 13 14 GP7 8.5 12 14 15 16 12 GP8 14.5 14 18 19.5 25.5 27.5GP9 1.5 3 3 8.5 15.5 7 GP10 12.5 12 7 18.5 14 13 # Passed 9/10 9/10 7/107/10 5/10 7/10 Neg. Control 1 24.5 21 22 23.5 22 25 Neg. Control 2 24 3329 29 24.5 34.5

-   -   Virus Control Values: 40, 38, 34, 35, 28, 23    -   Virus Control Average: 33

Virus Control 50% Reduction: 16.5 Discussion and Conclusions

Guinea pigs were vaccinated and sera tested for West Nile Virusantibody. This assay established that a titer of 1:12 in vaccinatedguinea pigs correlates to protection in a horse vaccination/challengestudy that provides at least one year duration of immunity for WNVvaccine prepared using a North American Dominant isolate of WNV, such asNorth American Equine E159(NAEE159).

Concurrently with guinea pig vaccinations, WNV vaccine prepared using aNorth American Dominant isolate of WNV, North American EquineE159(NAEE159), was also administered to horses (20 vaccinates and 10controls) via primary immunization followed by booster immunization 3weeks later. More than one year post-booster vaccination, horses weresubjected to virulent West Nile Virus challenge, and were protected whencompared to non-vaccinated controls. Vaccinated horses were protectedfrom viremia, clinical signs, mortality, and encephalitic lesions aftervirulent heterologous challenge with West Nile Virus.

In addition the data substantiate the superior efficacy of WNV vaccinesprepared using North American Dominant WNV, as opposed to previouslydeveloped vaccines derived from WNV NY99. The sera from the vaccinatedguinea pigs were tested for neutralizing antibody to both a NorthAmerican Dominant isolate of WNV and to WNV isolate NY99. Titers to theisolate frequently occurring in North America, namely North AmericanDominant (NAEE159), were consistently higher in vaccinated guinea pigsas compared to titers to the isolate that is no longer reported to bepresent in nor causing disease in North America, WNV NY99. Hence, thevaccine displayed superior activity in stimulating neutralizingantibodies to North American Dominant WNV, as opposed to NY99 WNV. Thesedata support the conclusion of the superior efficacy of WNV vaccinesprepared from North American Dominant WNV isolates as contrasted withearlier less effective vaccines prepared from or based on the NY99 WNVisolate.

Example 10

This Example illustrates the genetic differences between North AmericanWNV strains and North American Dominant WNV strains, as used in thepresent invention.

Materials and Methods

Relevant areas of the genome of WNV NY99 and the North American DominantWNV isolates suitable for preparation of a novel, superior vaccine weresequenced and compared to confirm the key genetic differences. Examplesof North American Dominant isolates used in vaccine preparation includeNorth American Equine E159(NAEE159) (ATCC Accession No. PTA-9409) andNorth American Donkey E159(NADE159).

Results and Conclusions

The critical Envelope (E) protein and Non-Structural 5 (NS5) protein wassequenced in these WNV isolates using standard laboratory techniques todetermine genetic differences in nucleotide sequence as contrasted withWNV NY99. Notably, the North American Dominant isolates, of whichspecific examples are North American Equine E159(NAEE159) and NorthAmerican Donkey E159(NADE159), displayed the changes which characterizeNorth American Dominant WNV isolates and distinguish them from NY99 WNV,namely, the U to C mutation and C to U mutation at positions 1442 and2466, respectively, of the nucleotide sequence encoding the E proteinand the C to U mutation at position 9352 in the sequence encoding theNS5 protein. FIGS. 10-17 show the sequence alignments of various regionsof isolates. The alignments in the E region are relative to publicallyavailable reference sequences for a NY 99 isolate (deposited in GenBankas AY590210) and a North American Dominant isolate (WN 02 isolate)deposited in GenBank as AY590223. The alignments in the NS5 region arealso relative to publically available reference sequences for a NY 99isolate (deposited in GenBank as AY369442) and a North American Dominantisolate (WN 02 isolate) deposited in GenBank as AY369440). As shown bythese alignments, North American Dominant WNV isolates have the samesequence changes relative to the NY 99 isolate as those defined in thedefinition for a North American Dominant WNV isolate. These sequencesare provided herein as SEQ ID NOS. 1-22, the full length genome of aWN99 isolate is provided as SEQ ID NO. 23, and the protein encoded bythe full length genome of SEQ ID NO. 23 is provided as SEQ ID NO. 24.

What is claimed is:
 1. An immunogenic composition comprising one or morestrains of killed or inactivated West Nile Virus or any antigen thereof.2. The immunogenic composition according to claim 1, wherein saidimmunogenic composition further comprises at least one antigen of one ormore additional strains selected from the group consisting of EasternEquine Encephalomyelitis Virus, Western Equine Encephalomyelitis Virusand Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus, Tetanus Toxoid, andcombinations thereof.
 3. The immunogenic composition according to claim1, wherein said immunogenic composition comprises at least one antigenor one additional strain of Equine Herpes Virus.
 4. The immunogeniccomposition according to claim 1, wherein said immunogenic compositioncomprises at least one antigen or one additional strain of EquineInfluenza Virus.
 5. The immunogenic composition according to claim 1,wherein said West Nile Virus is one of the strains selected from thegroup consisting of Horse Origin 2005, deposited with the ATCC underaccession number PTA-9409; NY2002Nassau; NY2002Clinton; NY2002Queens;GA20021; GA20022; TX20021; TX20022; IN2002; NY2003Albany; NY2003Suffolk;NY2003Chatauqua; CO20031; CO20032; TX2003; TX2003Harris4; TX2003Harris6;TX2003Harris7; TX2003Harris10; AZ2004; TX2004Harris4; and combinationthereof.
 6. The immunogenic composition according to claim 2, whereinsaid Western Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus is the strain deposited withthe ATCC under accession number PTA-9410.
 7. The immunogenic compositionaccording to claim 2, wherein said Venezuelan Equine EncephalomyelitisVirus is the strain deposited with the ATCC under accession numberPTA-9411.
 8. The immunogenic composition according to claim 2, whereinsaid Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus is the strain deposited withthe ATCC under accession number PTA-9412.
 9. The immunogenic compositionaccording to claim 2, wherein said Equine Herpes Virus is selected fromthe group consisting of the strains deposited with the ATCC underaccession Nos. PTA-9525 or PTA-9526, and combinations thereof.
 10. Theimmunogenic composition according to claim 2, wherein said EquineInfluenza Virus is selected from the group consisting ofInfluenza/Equine-2/Ohio/03, Influenza/Equine-2/KY/95,Influenza/Equine-2/New Market/2/93, and combinations thereof.
 11. Theimmunogenic composition according to claim 2, wherein said EquineInfluenza Virus is selected from the group consisting of the strainsdeposited with the ATCC under accession Nos. PTA-9522, PTA-9523 orPTA-9524 and combinations thereof.
 12. The immunogenic compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein any of the strains are present in anamount from about 10^(2.0) TCID₅₀/mL-10^(10.0) TCID₅₀/mL per dose. 13.The immunogenic composition according to claim 1, wherein saidimmunogenic composition further comprises suitable excipients orpharmaceutical carrier.
 14. The immunogenic composition according toclaim 13, wherein said suitable excipients or pharmaceutical carrieris/are selected from the group consisting of a diluent, adjuvant,antimicrobial agent, inactivating agent, and combinations thereof. 15.The immunogenic composition according to claim 14, wherein said adjuvantis selected from the group consisting of, a polymer of acrylic ormethacrylic acid, non-metabolized oil, and combinations thereof.
 16. Theimmunogenic composition according to claim 1, wherein said compositionis administered to an equine.
 17. The immunogenic composition accordingclaim 1, wherein said immunogenic composition is administered in one ormore doses.
 18. The immunogenic composition according to claim 1,wherein one dose of said immunogenic composition is formulated in 0.5 mlto 2.5 ml.
 19. The immunogenic composition according to claim 1, whereinsaid immunogenic composition provides duration of immunity of at least12 months after the administration of one dose.
 20. The immunogeniccomposition according to claim 1, wherein said immunogenic compositionis safe for use in foals or horses 4 months of age or older.
 21. Amethod for reducing the incidence or lessening the severity of clinicalsymptoms associated with or caused by West Nile Virus in an animal or aherd of animals comprising the step of administering the immunogeniccomposition according to claim 1 to an animal in need thereof.
 22. Amethod for reducing the incidence or lessening the severity of clinicalsymptoms associated with or caused by one or more of the pathogensselected from the group consisting of West Nile Virus, Eastern EquineEncephalomyelitis Virus, Western Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus,Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus and Clostridium tetani in ananimal or a herd of animals comprising the step of administering theimmunogenic composition according to claim 2 to an animal in needthereof.